The Effect of Morning Stiffness Duration on the Definition of Clinically Inactive Disease in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Objective. To investigate the effect of morning stiffness (MS) on parent disease perception in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) with clinically inactive disease (CID).

Methods. We examined 652 visits in which patients fulfilled 2004 or 2011 Wallace criteria for CID. Parent-reported outcomes were compared among patients with no MS or with MS < or ≥ 15 min.

Results. Among 652 visits with CID by 2004 criteria, no MS was reported in 554 visits (85%), MS < 15 min in 53 (8%), and MS ≥ 15 min in 45 (7%). The frequency of altered physical function, health-related quality of life and well-being, pain, and disease activity visual analog scales was proportionally greater in patients without MS than those with longer MS. The frequency of parent subjective rating of disease state as remission was 87.7%, 58%, and 26.7% among patients with no MS, MS < 15 min, and MS ≥ 15 min, respectively.

Conclusion. Our results suggest that a change in 2011 CID criteria to require absence of MS should be considered.