Clinical Ophthalmology (Oct 2019)
Visual Function And Quality Of Life In A Cohort Of Swedish Children With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Abstract
Rezhna Taha,1 Maria Papadopoulou,1,2 Madeleine Zetterberg,1,2 Solveig Oskarsdottir,3 Marita Andersson Grönlund1,2 1Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; 2Department of Ophthalmology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden; 3Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, SwedenCorrespondence: Rezhna TahaDepartment of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, SwedenTel +46 31 704 093555Fax +46 31 848952Email [email protected]: To evaluate quality of life (QoL) in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).Methods: Forty children with a mean age of 7.9 years were included. The children underwent an ophthalmological examination and completed questionnaires on physical function (CHAQ) and vision-related (VR) QoL (EYE-Q).Results: No differences regarding visual acuity (VA), refraction, intraocular pressure or physical or VRQoL were found between those with JIA without (n=33) and those with JIA-associated uveitis (n=7). When comparing physical function measured by CHAQ disability index and JIA subtype, a difference was found; children with polyarthritis scored the worst (p=0.0098). Children with subnormal VA scored worse on EYE-Q compared with those with normal VA (p=0.013). We found correlations between duration of JIA and CHAQ disability index (r=−0.42, p=0.0007) and CHAQ well-being (r=−0.34, p=0.022).Conclusion: This study indicates the importance of measuring not only physical function but also VRQoL in children with JIA and JIA-associated uveitis.Keywords: child arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, PROM, uveitis, quality of life
