Physical activity and quality of life of children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus and juvenile dermatomyositis during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objectives

1) To assess the level of physical activity of children and adolescents with IMRD (juvenile idiopathic arthritis – JIA, juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus—JSLE, or juvenile dermatomyositis - JDM) throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in a tertiary reference service, and 2) To assess the HRQoL and fatigue in these patients.

Methods

The authors included 57 children and adolescents with JIA, JSLE, and JDM, who were clinically inactive according to the assisting physician evaluation. The control group consisted of healthy children. Data was collected during the period of social isolation. The instruments used for the assessments were the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL 4.0), and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory – Fatigue Module (PedsQL – Fatigue Module).

Results

About 68.5 % of patients and 79.3 % of controls were considered active regarding physical activity, without any difference between physical activity intensity scores between the groups. Regarding HRQoL, the authors observed lower scores in patients' physical, social, and school functioning domains. The authors observed that patients had higher levels of fatigue according to parents and caregivers.

Conclusion

The impact on physical activity levels of children and adolescents with IMRD throughout the COVID-19 pandemic was positive, with the majority of patients being classified as active, according to the IPAQ questionnaire. Furthermore, the patients engaged in moderate and light physical activities, similar to healthy controls. Regarding HRQoL, the present data showed that patients had lower scores in most of the dimensions assessed.