Early-life physical activity and risk of juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a longitudinal ABIS cohort study using a symptom-free baseline design
Authors' conclusion
Our findings suggest that PA in childhood does not increase the risk of JIA although any potential protective association is likely modest.
Study context
- Population
- Children of the All Babies in Southeast Sweden cohort without juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) or joint symptoms at baseline88 incident JIA cases
- Participants
- 16,415 children
- Exposure
- Highly active vs less active children at age 5, 8 and 10-12 years
- Outcome
- Incident JIA (Swedish National Patient Registers)
Methodological detailslongitudinal, symptom-free baseline design, Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for sex, parental education and family history of rheumatic disease
- Longitudinal
- Symptom-free baseline design
- Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for sex, parental education and family history of rheumatic disease
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Incident JIA, higher vs lower PA across age-specific cohorts (age 5, 8, 10-12 years)
Higher physical activity (PA) consistently associated with a reduced risk of JIA across all age groups; unadjusted hazard ratios (HRs) ranging from
0.72 to 0.88
Higher PA consistently associated with a reduced risk of JIA across all age groups; adjusted HRs (sex, parental education, family history of rheumatic disease) ranging from
0.76 to 0.91
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Early-life physical activity and risk of juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a longitudinal ABIS cohort study using a symptom-free baseline design. Pediatr Rheumatol Online J. Published 1 September 2026. doi:10.
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