Race, ethnicity, and disease outcomes in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a cross-sectional analysis of the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) Registry.

OBJECTIVE

To measure the associations between self-reported race and ethnicity and disease outcomes, including joint damage, pain, and functional ability, in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

METHODS

A cross-sectional analysis of children with JIA enrolled in the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) Registry between May 2010 and March 2012. Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square testing were used to compare patient characteristics between race (white, African American, or Asian) and ethnicity (Non-Hispanic and Non-Latino; Hispanic or Latino) categories. Logistic regression was used to measure the associations between each race or ethnicity category and the outcome of interest.

RESULTS

Race category was available for 4292 of 4682 children (93% white, 5% African American, Asian 3%). Ethnicity data were available for 4644 (11% Hispanic or Latino). African American children with polyarticular-course JIA had an elevated OR for joint damage on radiographic imaging compared to white children (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.0-3.1; p = 0.04). Hispanic/Latino children had increased odds of having disability scores > 75th percentile (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-2.1; p < 0.01) compared to non-Hispanic/Latino children; however, these odds were no longer significant when the cohort was limited to children with polyarticular-course JIA. Asian children had decreased odds of higher pain and functional disability compared to white children (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Race and ethnicity were variably associated with joint damage, pain, and functional ability. Understanding outcome variation between different race and ethnicity groups may help to optimize care for children with JIA.