Rheumatology 2002; 41: 1440-1443
© 2002 British Society for Rheumatology
Paediatric Rheumatology |
Long-term follow-up of 246 adults with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: social function, relationships and sexual activity
Oxford Regional Paediatric Rheumatology Unit, Wexham Park Hospital, Slough SL2 4HL, UK
Abstract
Objective. To examine social function, relationships and sexual activity in adults with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
Patients and methods. Two hundred and forty-six adults identified with long-standing JIA had an average disease duration of 28.3 yr. Specific information was sought on marital status, offspring, age at first sexual encounter, and problems related to disease in sexual activity and pregnancy.
Results. Fewer patients (42.8%) were in stable relationships than their siblings (55.3%). The percentage of patients with children was 27.5. Twenty-three per cent of all known pregnancies ended in miscarriage. Of the women who had had a Caesarean, 78.9% had either reduced hip mobility or short stature. JIA had a detrimental effect on body image in 50.7% of patients but relationships were affected in only 28.2%. The percentage of patients who were sexually active or had had previous sexual experience was 83.3; 58.3% of these had disease-related sexual problems.
Conclusions. A significant proportion of individuals are sexually active before transfer to adult rheumatology care at the age of 18 yr. This highlights the need to introduce sexual counselling in adolescent clinics. The high incidence of psychological sexual problems may benefit from appropriate counselling and training.
KEY WORDS: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Long-term follow-up, Marriage, Children, Pregnancy, Body image, Sexual activity, Social function.
Notes
Correspondence to: J. C. Packham, Staffordshire Rheumatology Centre, Haywood Hospital, High Lane, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent ST6 7AG, UK.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  K. L. Hyrich, S. D. Lal, H. E. Foster, J. Thornton, N. Adib, E. Baildam, J. Gardner-Medwin, L. R. Wedderburn, A. Chieng, J. Davidson, et al. Disease activity and disability in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis one year following presentation to paediatric rheumatology. Results from the Childhood Arthritis Prospective Study Rheumatology, November 19, 2009; (2009) kep352v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. de AVILA LIMA SOUZA, A. L. GALLINARO, C. H. N. ABDO, S. C. KOWALSKI, R. M. SUEHIRO, C. A. A. da SILVA, and C. GOLDENSTEIN-SCHAINBERG Effect of Musculoskeletal Pain on Sexuality of Male Adolescents and Adults with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis J Rheumatol, June 1, 2009; 36(6): 1337 - 1342. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. E. McDonagh, K. L. Shaw, and T. R. Southwood Growing up and moving on in rheumatology: development and preliminary evaluation of a transitional care programme for a multicentre cohort of adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis J Child Health Care, March 1, 2006; 10(1): 22 - 42. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. L. Shaw, T. R. Southwood, and J. E. McDonagh Transitional care for adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a Delphi study Rheumatology, August 1, 2004; 43(8): 1000 - 1006. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. Chira and C. Sandborg Adolescent rheumatology transitional care: steps to bringing health policy into practice Rheumatology, June 1, 2004; 43(6): 687 - 689. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. L. Shaw, T. R. Southwood, and J. E. McDonagh Developing a programme of transitional care for adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: results of a postal survey Rheumatology, February 1, 2004; 43(2): 211 - 219. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|