Obesity and disease activity in juvenile idiopathic arthritis

• Main Authors: Pelajo Christina F (Author), Lopez-Benitez Jorge M (Author), Miller Laurie C (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: BMC, 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.1186/1546-0096-10-3; 1546-0096
• Keywords: Obesity; Overweight; Arthritis; Juvenile Rheumatoid; Rheumatology; Child; Inflammation; Pediatrics; RJ1-570; Diseases of the musculoskeletal system; RC925-935
• Source: Pediatric Rheumatology Online Journal, Vol 10, Iss 1, p 3 (2012)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Children with physical disabilities may have an increased risk for obesity and obesity might be a risk factor for inflammatory arthritis. The aims of this study were: to determine the prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and to examine the association between obesity and disease activity in this population.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>A cross-sectional analysis of all patients with JIA attending a pediatric rheumatology clinic, between October 2009 and September 2010, was performed. A linear regression model was used to explore the association between obesity and disease activity in patients with JIA. A total of 154 subjects were included in the analysis; median age was 10.6 years, 61% were female, and 88% were white. Obesity was found in 18%, 12% were overweight, and 3% were underweight. There was no association between obesity and JADAS-27 (Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score 27), physician's assessment of disease activity, parent's assessment of child's well-being, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, number of active joints, or C-reactive protein (p-value range 0.10 to 0.95).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Although 18% of patients with JIA were obese, we did not find an association between obesity and disease activity. As obesity confers an additional health risk in children with arthritis, addressing this co-morbidity should be a health priority in patients with JIA. Future studies are necessary to further explore potential associations between obesity, development of JIA, and disease activity.</p>