Longitudinal Course of Sleep Disturbance and Relationship With Itch in Adult Atopic Dermatitis in Clinical Practice.

BACKGROUND

Sleep disturbance (SD) is common in atopic dermatitis (AD). We examined the longitudinal course of SD and relationship with itch in AD patients.

METHODS

A prospective, dermatology practice-based study was performed (N = 1295) where patients were assessed at baseline and follow-up visits.

RESULTS

At baseline, 16.9% of the patients had severe SD based on Patient-Reported Outcomes Information System (PROMIS) SD T scores, 19.1% had difficulty falling asleep, 22.9% had difficulty staying asleep, and 34.2% had SD from AD. A total of 31.4% of the patients with difficulty staying asleep at baseline experienced persistent difficulties (for 3 follow-ups or more). Only 17.7% with baseline difficulty falling asleep had persistent disturbance. Despite significant fluctuation in sleep scores, SD generally improved over time. Of the patients facing baseline SD from AD, 31.5% experienced SD at the first visit, and only 12.3% experienced persistent SD at the second follow-up visit. Predictors of increased PROMIS sleep-related impairment T scores over time included baseline PROMIS sleep-related impairment T scores (0.74 [0.68-0.80]), having 3 to 6 nights of itch (2.22 [0.85-3.59]), and severe/very severe AD (4.40 [2.60-6.20]).

CONCLUSIONS

A significant proportion of adult AD patients, particularly those with moderate-severe AD and frequent itch, had baseline SD. Although sleep scores generally improved over time, many patients experienced a fluctuating or persistent course.