Quality of life and stigmatization in people with skin diseases in Europe: A large survey from the 'burden of skin diseases' EADV project

Abstract

Background: Several large studies on the burden of skin diseases have been performed in patients recruited in hospitals or clinical centres, thus missing people with skin diseases who do not undergo a clinical consultation.

Objectives: To evaluate the burden of the most common dermatological diseases in adult patients across Europe, in terms of quality of life, work life, and stigmatization.

Methods: Population-based survey on a representative sample of the European general population aged 18 years or older. Participants who declared to have had one or more skin problem or disease during the previous 12 months completed the Dermatology Life Quality Index questionnaire, and answered questions regarding the impact of their skin disease on daily and work life, anxiety/depression, and stigmatization.

Results: The study population included 19,915 individuals, 44.7% of whom were men. Quality of life was particularly impaired in people with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), and sexually transmitted diseases. About a half of participants with acne, alopecia, or chronic urticaria, and about 40% of those with atopic dermatitis (AD), skin cancers, or psoriasis reported a modest to extremely large effect of the disease on their quality of life. Overall, 88.1% of participants considered their skin disease as embarrassing in personal life and 83% in work life. About half of the respondents reported sleeping difficulty, feeling tired, and impact of the disease on taking care of themselves. Concerning stigmatization, 14.5% felt to have been rejected by others because of the skin disease, and 19.2% to have been looked at with disgust. Anxiety and depression were frequently reported by patients with all the diseases.

Conclusions: Skin diseases may heavily affect patients' daily and work life, and cause feelings of stigmatization. An early intervention is needed to avoid consequences on the patients' life course.