LONG-TERM HEALTH OUTCOMES AND QUALITY-OF-LIFE IN AMERICAN AND ITALIANINCEPTION COHORTS OF PATIENTS WITH JUVENILE RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS .1. OUTCOME STATUS
N. Ruperto et al., LONG-TERM HEALTH OUTCOMES AND QUALITY-OF-LIFE IN AMERICAN AND ITALIANINCEPTION COHORTS OF PATIENTS WITH JUVENILE RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS .1. OUTCOME STATUS, Journal of rheumatology, 24(5), 1997, pp. 945-951
Objective. To assess the longterm health outcomes and quality of life
of patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) using health and
functional assessment questionnaires in 2 populations, one from the US
A and one from Italy. Methods. Patient eligibility criteria: (1) first
examined in our units between 1958 and 1990 during the first 6 months
after onset of symptoms, (2) diagnosis of JRA by the American College
of Rheumatology criteria, (3) disease duration of at least 5 years at
the time of assessment of outcome, Instruments used: (1) the Health A
ssessment Questionnaire (HAQ, short form, or childhood HAQ (CHAQ), and
(2) Quality of Life Scales (QOLS, adults only), Eligible patients wer
e identified by computer search and chart review and were then mailed
a packet containing a consent/assent form and the assessment instrumen
ts. Results. Of 346 patients who met the eligibility criteria we were
able to locate 301, and 290 verbally agreed to participate and were ma
iled packets. Signed consent and complete information were received fr
om 227 of the 290 (78%), 178 from the USA and 49 from Italy. Mean dura
tion of disease at the time of outcome assessment was 15 yrs. 127 had
pauciarticular, 55 polyarticular, and 45 systemic onset disease. Mean
and (median) scores of the outcomes are shown in the table. [GRAPHICS]
Conclusion. Longterm outcome, as assessed by the instruments used, is
very favorable in most patients with JRA 5 years or more after onset
of symptoms.