THU0589 Physical activity in children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Authors: M. Sellami, A. Fazaa, S. Miladi, K. Ouenniche, S. Kassab, S. Chekili, K. Ben Abdelghani, A. Laatar
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2018)

<h3>Background</h3> Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is the most common rheumatic disease of childhood which may cause physical dysfunction and inactive sedentary lifestyle. Physical activity (PA), known to maintain optimal metabolic function and normal development could be impaired during JIA. <h3>Objectives</h3> The aim of this study was to assess PA in children and adolescents with JIA compared with a healthy population and to analyse associations between PA, functional ability and disease activity. <h3>Methods</h3> This is a cross-sectional study including patients with JIA (ILAR criteria) and age and gender-matched healthy Tunisian schoolchildren. Disease activity was evaluated by Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score (JADAS) and functional ability by the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ). PA was assessed by children's physical activity questionnaire (CPAQ) for children and for adolescents (APAQ) and expressed as physical activity level (PAL). Moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) (hours/day) and sedentary time (hours/day) were determined. <h3>Results</h3> A total of 55 patients (38 boys and 17 girls) with JIA and 60 healthy schoolchildren were included. No significant differences for age, height, weight, and body mass index between JIA patients and controls were observed. A quarter of children lived in poor socio-economic conditions. Subtypes of JIA were: oligoarticular (52.7%), rheumatoid factor-negative (16.3%) or positive (10.9%) polyarthritis, systemic JIA (9%), and enthesitis-related arthritis (7.2%). The mean disease duration was 3.2 years.<sup>2–6</sup> Twelve patients had active disease (21.8%), 25 patients had inactive disease (45.4%) and 18 patients were in remission (32.7%). The mean average of CHAQ was 0.98. Seventy six percent of the JIA group spent most of the time (average of 15 hours/week) on the two lowest categories: sleeping and sitting compared with the control group (average of 8 hours/week). Only 11 children with JIA (20%) played sport regularly with an average of 40 minutes/week which was significantly lower compared with controls (120 minutes/week; p=0.01). Children with JIA spent less time in MVPA compared with the control group (0.5±0.6 versus 1.9±0.9 hours/day; p&lt;0.01). Only 34.5% of JIA patients met public health recommendations to perform ≥1 hour daily MVPA compared with 66.6% in the control group (p&lt;0.01). No associations were found between PA level, disease duration and disease activity. However, lower PAL in children with JIA was significantly associated with young age (p=0.03), worse well-being (p=0.01) and CHAQ &gt;1 (p&lt;0.001). A higher CHAQ score was associated with less time spend in MVPA (p&lt;0.001) and poor willingness to practice PA (p=0.001). Sedentary time was associated with higher body mass index (p=0.02). <h3>Conclusions</h3> In our study, children and adolescents with JIA were less physically active than the healthy peers and less active than recommended for general health. This population needs more attention in achieving normal PA. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None declared