- Programme Area 2
Paediatric Rheumatology and Health Services Research
- Rheumatism in children
How can we optimize care for young people with rheumatic diseases?
Young people with inflammatory rheumatic diseases are in better health today than they were a few years ago. But the potential is far from exhausted. Our working group is looking for approaches to further improve the health care situation for children, adolescents and young adults with rheumatic diseases. To this end, we evaluate processes and outcomes of rheumatology care and investigate the medical, psychosocial and economic consequences of rheumatic diseases under real-life care conditions. Special attention is paid to children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
Research for a better future
How soon do children and adolescents access pediatric rheumatology care after symptom onset? What treatments are used, and what outcomes are achieved? How safe are new drugs long-term? How well do patients fare in adulthood, and what factors influence the course of the disease?
Answers to these questions are provided by extensive observational studies, which form the basis of our research. The nationwide cohort studies conducted within our research group form the foundation of our research. These cohorts allow us to track developments over time andObservational studies, such as the national Pediatric Rheumatologic Database (NPRD) and the JuMBO biologics registry, enable us to analyze temporal developments and treatment outcomes. In these studies, we were able to determine that the changes in the drug treatment of affected children, adolescents and young adults were accompanied by increasingly better control of disease activity and an improvement in the quality of life of those affected. Consequential damage to the joints and functional limitations in everyday life have become rarer. Most importantly, our studies have shown that early initiation of treatment is crucial for the long-term prognosis of JIA. The earlier patients are treated effectively, the more often they are free of symptoms and treatment in adulthood.
The earlier patients are treated effectively, the more often they are free of symptoms and treatment in adulthood.
Members
+49 (0)30 28460-669
minden@drfz.de
+49 (0)30 28460-770
jens.klotsche@drfz.de
+49 (0)30 28460-743
florian.milatz@drfz.de
Cooperation partners
The working group also supports the joint project funded by the GBA Innovation Fund and the International Inception Cohort for Patients with Juvenile Systemic Sceroderma and the MIWGUC project (Multinational Interdisciplinary Working Group for Uveitis in Childhood) by providing methodological and statistical advice.
The group also supported the project BEWARE (Importance of Exercise Diagnostics to Promote Early Physical and Sporting Activity in Pediatric Rheumatism) funded by the GBA Innovation Fund
