Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents with Atopic Dermatitis

Cho, Soo Ick; Kim, Jin Hye; Chung, Bo Young; Ahn, In Su; Kim, Hye One; Park, Chun Wook; Lee, Cheol Heon

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The symptoms of atopic dermatitis (AD) can limit a patient's physical and psychosocial development as well as lower their overall quality of life (QOL). These problems may have a greater effect on patients during childhood and adolescence, whose physical and psychosocial developments are vigorously ongoing.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to identify the correlation between the QOL and clinical disease severity in children and adolescents with AD.
METHODS
Forty-six AD patients aged from 7 to 18 years were included in this study. A questionnaire based on Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) was used to determine QOL. Eczema area and severity index (EASI) were examined to evaluate the severity of AD.
RESULTS
The mean score of CDLQI was 12.83+/-6.52. Among the 10 categories, itching, treatment, and sleep showed the highest scores, whereas teasing, friendships, and school or holiday work had the lowest scores (p<0.01). The mean EASI score was 8.51+/-8.64. CDLQI and EASI scores showed significant correlation (p<0.001). Among the 10 categories of CDLQI and EASI score, the sleep, itching, and clothes categories displayed high correlation with the EASI score (p<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the different age groups or between boys and girls. Patients with head and neck skin lesions showed problems with personal relationships and treatment (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
AD affects the QOL of children and adolescents with AD as the severity of the disease increases. In managing AD patients, not only evaluating the clinical severity of the disease but also evaluating QOL is necessary, and emotional support could be helpful to increase the QOL of childhood and adolescent AD patients.