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.
Keywords: Anxiety; Atopic dermatitis; Depression; Health-related quality of life; Healthcare resource utilization; Itch; Pruritus; Sleep difficulties; Work impairment.