Background/Purpose: The incidence of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) varies widely among countries, and currently, updated data for Latin America and Chile are not available. The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiological behavior of JIA in Chile.

Methods: A descriptive analytical cross-sectional study was conducted, including all children under 16 years of age diagnosed with JIA between 2010 and 2024, according to the National Registry of Explicit Health Guarantees (GES) a legally-mandated national universal access program for diagnosis and treatment of this condition for the public and private healthcare systems. This registry requires compulsory reporting by law, which guarantees nationwide coverage and reliable data. Overall and annual incidence rates per 100.000 children under 16 years of age were calculated, and trends and differences according to sex, age, and region were evaluated using Poisson and quasi-Poisson regression models.

Results: The overall incidence was 5.17 per 100,000 children under 16 years of age, with a stable annual incidence rate over time. The incidence was consistently higher in females across all age groups and increased progressively with age in both sexes. Furthermore, a higher proportion of cases were diagnosed within the public health system, and a greater concentration was observed in the metropolitan region, where the country’s capital is located.

Conclusion: These data allow us to assess the current burden of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and guide a better allocation of resources, promoting timely access to diagnosis and treatment. They also provide relevant epidemiological evidence that contributes to the understanding of the disease both in Latin America and globally.

Incidence in woman and men by age group

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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/incidence-of-juvenile-idiopathic-arthritis-in-chile-estimates-from-a-national-universal-access-program-2010-2024/