Impact of juvenile idiopathic arthritis on schooling

Thirty-three children with JIA were included in this study, having been previously diagnosed according to the classification criteria of the International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR). Seventy-four healthy children were recruited to serve as controls. Data was obtained for all children on their school level, educational performance, and attendance. The rate of absenteeism due to health complications was noted.All healthy children were able to attend school (p<0.0001), while 33% of children with JIA were unable to attend school due to their condition. The students with JIA who were able to attend school were absent much more often than controls (63% compared to 20%), with a highly significant p value (p<0.0001). Slightly less than half of the JIA patients (48.5%) failed in their schooling. In univariate analysis, there was an association between absenteeism and tender joints (p=0.02), disease activity score (DAS28) (p=0.007), Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) (p=0.01), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (p=0.03). In multivariate analysis, the only association persisted between DAS28 and absenteeism.Our study suggested that the schooling of children with JIA was negatively impacted due to the disorder. More studies, with a larger sample of children, are needed to confirm our findings.Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common arthropathy of childhood, with an estimated prevalence between 7 and 400 for every 100,000 children [1]. It can persist over many years and can also lead to disability and dysfunction in adulthood [2]. JIA is a heterogeneous, multifactorial autoimmune disease characterized by persistent joint inflammation, which manifests as swelling, pain, and limitation of movement [3]. The disease can also lead to physical disability and reduced quality of life [4]. Different diseases affect school attendance to varying degrees, and there are indications that chronic arthritis is particularly disruptive becaus