Investigating the Impact of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis on Health, Costs, and Quality of Life in Australia: The IMPACT Study.
cross_sectional · Level IV
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 42476297.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1016/j.jpeds.2026.115246.
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Abstract
To evaluate the impact of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) on the lives of children and young adults in Australia, including health care interactions, treatment, physical and mental health, social/familial impact, costs and quality of life, and to determine priorities for research. Cross-sectional online survey conducted from February through June 2023 across Australia of individuals 0-25 years diagnosed with JIA or their parents/caregivers. Analyses included descriptive statistics: percentages and counts for discrete variables and mean and SD for quantitative variables. Full text responses were coded into themes to quantify responses. Of 184 participants, mean age was 12 years; 67% were female. Participants averaged 25 visits annually to 5.6 health professionals. Blood tests and eye examinations averaged 4 and 3 per year, respectively. Over half (56%) had a hospitalization in the past year, of which 80% were day-stays. Medication use was high (97%), mostly conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (73.4%), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (73.4%), and biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (53.3%) with adverse effects affecting 72%. The greatest health impact was on mental health (53%); half experienced moderate-severe pain and 30% required aids for daily living. Children missed 1 month of school/year. The greatest social impact on participants was sport (77%) and on families emotional health (59%). Mean annual government costs were 19 795 USD/participant. Quality of life measures were low with mean Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory score 54.5 and mean Child Health Utility instrument score 0.53. Priority research areas included long-term health impact, medication use, and physical impact. The broad burden of JIA highlights the need for models of holistic management that extend beyond clinical considerations to encompass and address the lived experience and needs of individuals and families affected by JIA.