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. 2019 Nov 5;9(1):15990.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-51129-5.

Factors influencing quality of life in children with atopic dermatitis and their caregivers: a cross-sectional study

Xiaomeng Xu  1 , Louise Sandra van Galen  1   2 , Mark Jean Aan Koh  3 , Ram Bajpai  1 , Steven Thng  4 , Yik Weng Yew  4   5 , Valerie Pui Yoong Ho  3 , Uma Alagappan  3 , Krister Sven Ake Järbrink  1 , Josip Car  6
Affiliations

Factors influencing quality of life in children with atopic dermatitis and their caregivers: a cross-sectional study

Xiaomeng Xu et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Better understanding of atopic dermatitis' effect on quality of life could enhance current management and therapeutic strategies. Studies investigating factors related to the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of children with atopic dermatitis and their caregivers are limited. This cross-sectional study included 559 children (<16 years) with atopic dermatitis and their caregivers. Disease severity was associated with infants' HRQOL (moderate: IRR: 1.42, 95% CI 1.20-1.67; severe: IRR: 1.72, 95% CI 1.32-2.24). Age and disease severity were associated with children's HRQOL (age: IRR: 0.99, 95% CI 0.98-1.00; moderate: IRR: 1.08, 95% CI 1.02-1.14). Quality of life subdomains itching/scratching, emotional distress and sleep disturbance were most reported and increased with higher disease severity. Both caregivers' mental and physical health were negatively affected by children's HRQOL (physical: IRR: 0.99, 95% CI 0.99-1.00; mental: IRR: 0.98, 95% CI 0.97-0.99). Sociodemographic characteristics (gender, ethnicity, educational attainment of carers, number of children) did not demonstrate significance in children's HRQOL model. In conclusion, current atopic dermatitis diagnostics and treatment have to be extended to the factors influencing both children' as their caregivers' quality of life and adapting management accordingly. Itching/scratching, emotional distress and sleep disturbance deserve attention. Sociodemographic characteristics in children's HRQOL models also merit attention in further research.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Patient recruitment workflow.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Association between mean score of IDQOL and CDLQI reported subdomains and children’s disease severity. (A) IDQOL subdomains (X-axis: subdomains; Y-axis: mean score of IDQOL). (B) CDLQI subdomains (X-axis: subdomains; Y-axis: mean score of CDLQI). *Significant differences in quality of life between different severity groups (missing data: n = 46). IDQOL: The score ranges from 0 to 30. A higher score indicates a greater degree of quality of life impairment. CDLQI: The score ranges from 0 to 30. A higher score indicates a greater degree of quality of life impairment.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Association between children’s mean score of HRQOL and caregivers’ physical and mental health (X-axis: mean score of HRQOL; Y-axis: mean score of physical health/mental health). *HRQOL in this figure is a composite of IDQOL and CDLQI. A higher HRQOL in this figure indicates a lower quality of life.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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