Background: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is an uncommon chronic condition affecting children causing joint swelling and limited range of motion, potentially leading to functional limitations and, gradually, the onset of physical deconditioning.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess physical activity (PA) in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and to determine factors influencing PA level.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that involved patients aged between 5 and 16 years diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), comparing them with age- and gender-matched children consulting for osteoarticular diseases other than JIA. The diagnosis of JIA was established based on the 2001 criteria of the International League of Association of Rheumatology (ILAR). Physical activity (PA) was assessed by determining the number of hours per week dedicated to physical activity and the type of activities reported by the patients, including physical education and/or leisure-time physical activity (sports). Disease activity was evaluated using the Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score (JADAS 10), while functional ability was assessed using the Functional Disability Inventory (FDI).

Results: A total of 30 children with JIA and 20 controls were included.

The mean age in the JIA group was 10.7 ± 2.3 years, compared to 9.5 ± 3.7 years in the control group (p = 0.49). There was a female predominance in both groups, with n = 18 in the JIA group and n = 12 in the control group (p = 0.26). The median AJI disease duration was 1.3 ± 3.8 years. The JIA population consisted mainly of enthesis-related arthritis (n = 15), polyarticular arthritis with negative rheumatoid factor (n = 5), polyarticular arthritis with positive rheumatoid factor (n = 2), oligoarticular arthritis (n = 4), and Systemic JIA (n = 4).

All children reported engaging in physical activity during their physical education classes. However, within the JIA group, only 7 of them participated in leisure-time physical activities, with an average duration of 3.6 ± 2.4 hours per week. The reported sports included football in 4 cases, boxing in 2 cases, and handball and tennis in 1 case each. Only 2 patients reported participating in more than one sport.

Children with JIA exhibited lower levels of physical activity compared to their peers, as assessed, but the difference was statistically insignificant (p=0.21). Low physical activity levels were associated with systemic JIA (p= 0.02, r = 2.1), polyarticular JIA with a positive rheumatoid factor (= 0.01, r= 2.4), JADAS-10≥ 6 (p = 0.001, r = 2.5), and higher Functional Disability Inventory (FDI) scores (p= 0.002, r = 2.4).

Conclusion: The study, despite its small sample size, reveals that Tunisian children, especially those with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), have inadequate physical activity levels below WHO recommendations. Lower physical activity is linked to functional disability and disease factors in children with JIA, underscoring the need for stringent disease control.

REFERENCES: NIL.

Acknowledgements: NIL.

Disclosure of Interests: None declared.