A study published in Advances in Therapy that evaluated adults with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD) in the United States found a significant link between psychosocial comorbidities and health outcomes, including health status, work loss, and health care resource utilization (HRU).
Using data from the 2017 US National Health and Wellness Survey, the study included patients with a physician diagnosis of moderate to severe AD (as based on Dermatology Life Quality Index score of 6) or eczema. The relationship between psychosocial comorbidities, including sleep difficulties, anxiety, and depression (based on self-report and Patient Health Questionnaire-9, respectively), and health outcomes (36-item Short Form Health Survey, version 2; EuroQol five-dimension, five-level; Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire; and HRU) was examined using generalized linear models.
Of the respondents with moderate to severe AD (N=1017), 56.6%, 70.7%, and 60.9% reported sleep difficulties, depression, and anxiety, respectively, wrote the study authors. Each comorbidity was significantly associated with reduced scores and increased overall work impairment (P<.05), as well as increased HRU.
The authors concluded that patients with moderate to severe AD often reported these psychosocial comorbidities, which have been found to have a significant link with health status, work loss, and HRU.—Jessica Garlewicz
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Reference
Kwatra SG, Gruben D, Fung S, DiBonaventura M. Psychosocial comorbidities and health status among adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis: a 2017 US National Health and Wellness Survey analysis. Adv Ther. Published online February 8, 2021. doi:10.1007/s12325-021-01630-z
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