Comorbidity patterns before and after juvenile idiopathic arthritis diagnosis

Abstract

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that begins before the age of 16, characterized by persistent joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. In this study, we utilized the Oracle Real-World Data (formerly Cerner Real-World Data), to examine the demographic characteristics of JIA patients and to identify patterns of comorbidities both before and after diagnosis. Our analysis revealed that individuals identified as Black or African American are diagnosed with JIA at significantly older ages compared to other racial groups, highlighting a critical disparity given the importance of early detection for better clinical outcomes. Pre-diagnostic comorbidity analysis indicated that the presence of musculoskeletal pain, particularly when occurring alongside joint disorders, abdominal pain, or respiratory symptoms, could serve as early clinical indicators for JIA. Post-diagnosis, the comorbidity burden shifted from isolated musculoskeletal complaints to broader multi-system involvement, with joint, skin, and respiratory conditions becoming predominant.