Psychosocial Comorbidities and Health Status Among Adults with Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis: A 2017 US National Health and Wellness Survey Analysis.

INTRODUCTION

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with sleep difficulties, depression, and anxiety. We evaluated the relationship between these psychosocial comorbidities and health outcomes among adults with moderate-to-severe AD in the USA.

METHODS

Data were analyzed from the 2017 US National Health and Wellness Survey. Respondents with a physician diagnosis of AD or eczema with moderate-to-severe AD based on a Dermatology Life Quality Index score of 6 or more were included. Generalized linear models were used to examine the relationship between psychosocial comorbidities (sleep difficulties and anxiety based on self-report, depression based on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9) and health outcomes [the 36-item Short Form Health Survey, version 2; EuroQol five-dimension, five-level; Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire; and healthcare resource utilization (HRU)].

RESULTS

Among respondents with moderate-to-severe AD (N = 1017), 56.6%, 70.7%, and 60.9% reported sleep difficulties, depression, and anxiety, respectively. These comorbidities were significantly associated with reduced physical and mental component summary scores and increased overall work impairment (P < 0.05 for all). Increased HRU was also observed.

CONCLUSION

Psychosocial comorbidities were frequently reported by respondents with moderate-to-severe AD and were significantly associated with health status, work loss, and HRU.