AD, Psoriasis Patients Have Similar Poor Quality of Life

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with poorer health-related quality of life and productivity among adults with the condition, according to a recent study.

There is currently a need for broad and representative data on the humanistic burden of AD, given its impact on public health.
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To assess this further, the researchers analyzed data from the 2013 US National Health and Wellness Survey. Participants with self-reported AD (n = 349) were propensity-matched with controls who did not have AD and had psoriasis (n = 698). Demographics and baseline characteristics were similar between groups.

Bivariate analyses were performed on burden outcomes between the AD group and the control groups.

Results indicated that participants with AD had significantly higher rates of anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders compared with participants without AD. Participants with AD also had lower Short Form-36 v2 mental component summary scores, lower physical component summary scores, and lower health utilities vs controls. Additionally, rates of work absenteeism and activity impairment were higher among participants with AD compared with controls.

Ultimately, the researchers found that participants with AD and those with psoriasis demonstrated similar impairment in health-related quality of life and productivity.

“AD is associated with a substantial humanistic burden that is similar in magnitude to that of psoriasis, which is also recognized for its debilitating symptoms, indicating the need for more effective treatments for AD,” the researchers concluded.

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Eckert L, Gupta S, Amand C, Gadkari A, Mahajan P, Gelfand JM. Impact of atopic dermatitis on health-related quality of life and productivity in adults in the United States: an analysis using the National Health and Wellness Survey. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017;77(2):274-279.e3. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2017.04.019.