Evaluation of fear of falling in patients with Juvenile idiopathic arthritis

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Esmeray Şenol P., Leventoğlu E., Küçükali B., Yıldız Yıldırım Ç., Karaçayır N., Kutlar Tanıdır M., ...Daha Fazla

31st European Paediatric Rheumatology Congress, Gothenburg, İsveç, 11 - 14 Eylül 2024, ss.30

  • Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Özet Bildiri
  • Basıldığı Şehir: Gothenburg
  • Basıldığı Ülke: İsveç
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.30
  • Gazi Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Introduction: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic rheumatic disease characterized by arthritis. The fear of falling (FOF) negatively impacts the quality of life of JIA patients through restriction of patients’ ability to maintain their daily and physical activity levels. Causes of FOF may include joint pain, imbalance, muscle weakness, side efects of medications, the presence of uveitis, and restrictions on physical activities. There are many studies evaluating the FOF in adults with chronic diseases (1,2), while pediatric data are limited (3,4) and no study regarding JIA. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the FOF in JIA.

Objectives: 34 patients with JIA and 15 patients with recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI) between September and December 2023 were included in the study. A questionnaire consisting of 34 questions, lasting approximately 15 minutes to assess FOF were completed by parents or children over 6 years old. The FOF assessment scale developed by İpek et al. in children with neuromuscular disease was used in the study (4).

Results: The study included 34 patients with JIA and 15 patients with recurrent UTIs as the control group. Nineteen (55.9%) of the JIA patients and six (40%) of the control group were female. The mean age was 12.5 (±1.8) years in the JIA group and 15.2 (±3.8) years in the control group (p>0.05). All JIA patients had lower extremity involvement during their disease process. The mean disease duration was 75.5 (±45.9) months. There were no diferences in any domain of FOF between JIA and UTI patients. Only 2 (5.9%) JIA patients indicated an increase in falls after diagnosis.

Conclusion: This study is important because it is the frst study evaluating the FOF in patients with JIA, and established a signifcant FOF. This study is the initial step of the development of a specifc questionnaire to assess the FOF in JIA patients. With these evaluations, it can be aimed to improve the quality of life of JIA patients by providing appropriate psychological support.