Pediatric uveitis can lead to sight-threatening complications and impact quality of life (QOL) and functioning. We aim to examine health-related QOL (HRQOL), mental health, physical disability, vision-related functioning (VRF), and vision-related QOL (VRQOL) in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), JIA-associated uveitis (JIA-U), and other non-infectious uveitis. We hypothesize that there will be differences based on the presence of eye disease.
A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted at four sites. Patients with JIA, JIA-U, or non-infectious uveitis were enrolled. Patients and parents completed the PedsQL (HRQOL), RCADS (anxiety/depression), CHAQ (physical disability), and EYE-Q (VRF/VRQOL). Clinical characteristics and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were compared by diagnosis.
Of 549 patients, 332 had JIA, 124 JIA-U, and 93 other uveitis. Children with JIA-U had worse EYE-Q scores compared to JIA only. In children with uveitis, those with anterior uveitis (JIA-U and uveitis only) had less ocular complications, better EYE-Q scores, and worse CHAQ and PedsQL physical summary scores compared to those with non-anterior disease. In children with anterior uveitis, those with JIA-U had worse PedsQL physical summary and CHAQ scores than anterior uveitis only. Further, EYE-Q scores were worse in children with bilateral uveitis and more visual impairment. There were no differences in RCADS scores among groups.
We provide a comprehensive outcome assessment of children with JIA, JIA-U, and other uveitis diagnoses. Differences in QOL and function were noted based on underlying disease. Our results support the addition of a vision-specific measure to better understand the impact of uveitis.