Quality of Life in Adults with Atopic Dermatitis

Kim, Jin Hye; Kim, Hyeone; Park, Chun Wook; Lee, Cheol Heon

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The symptoms of atopic dermatitis (AD) may lead to the impairment of overall quality of life (QOL). Many international studies have addressed the effects of AD on the QOL of patients and their families'. However, studies from Korea are few and insufficient.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to identify the correlation between the QOL and clinical disease severity in adults with AD.
METHODS
Thirty-one AD patients ranging in age from 19~43 years were included. Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and the shorter version of World Health Organization QOL assessment instrument (WHOQOL-BREF) were used to determine the QOL. Eczema area and severity index (EASI) was examined to evaluate the severity of AD.
RESULTS
The mean DLQI, QOL and EASI score was 19.74+/-6.93, 3.77+/-0.76 and 9.42+/-11.12, respectively. DLQI and QOL scores significantly correlated with EASI score (p<0.05 for both). There was no significant correlation between DLQI and QOL score (p>0.05). Each domain of the WHOQOL-BREF and EASI score did not show meaningful correlation (p>0.05). However, for DLQI, categories of emotion, daily life, work and school work showed a high correlation with the EASI score (all p<0.05). Both DLQI and QOL score showed significant correlation with the EASI score in females (p<0.05), but only QOL score showed high correlation in male (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
AD affects QOL of adults with AD as the disease severity increases. In managing the AD patients, evaluating the clinical severity and evaluating QOL of patients would be necessary and emotional support will be helpful.