title: Comorbidity profiles among adult patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: results of a biologic register.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to assess the prevalence of comorbidities in adult JIA and the impact of comorbidity on patients' perceived health state.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-reported comorbidity was studied in 344 adult JIA patients who have been included in the biologic register JuMBO. The comorbidity prevalence among the patients was compared to an age- and sex-matched reference group from the population. The correlation of comorbidity with clinical and demographic parameters was analysed by linear or logistic regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty two percent of the JIA patients reported at least one comorbidity. Uveitis was the most common comorbid condition (17.7%), followed by allergic rhinitis (14.5%), migraine (8.7%), and atopic dermatitis (8.7%). The prevalence of cardiovascular disorders was 9.9%, which was not higher than that in the population. However, patients with a systemic onset of JIA (soJIA) had a substantially higher rate of cardiovascular diseases of 40.6% (p=0.033). Patients with soJIA also had the highest prevalence (80.0%) and the highest mean number (1.8) of comorbidities. Patients with at least one comorbid condition suffered more often from fatigue and pain, had a lower functional capacity (p<0.001, each), and a lower physical and mental health-related quality of life than those without comorbidities (p<0.001 and p=0.017, respectively). The presence of any comorbidity and the level of disease activity were independent predictors of a lower SF-36 score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that comorbid conditions have a significant impact on the perceived health state in adult JIA. Among all JIA patients, those with systemic onset carry the highest risk for comorbidities, in particular for cardiovascular disorders.
authors.affiliation: German Rheumatism Research Centre Berlin, A. Leibniz Institute, Berlin, Germany. raab@drfz.de.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raab
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sengler
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Niewerth
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klotsche
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Horneff
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zink
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Girschick
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Minden
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D057216:Propensity Score; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D057566:Self Report; D055815:Young Adult