Burden of Atopic Dermatitis in Pediatric Patients: An International Cross-sectional Study
Stephan Weidinger, Eric L Simpson, Jonathan I Silverberg, Sebastien Barbarot, Laurent Eckert, Paola Mina-Osorio, Ana B Rossi, Lysel Brignoli, Tarek Mnif, Isabelle Guillemin, Miriam C Fenton, Dimittri Delevry, Chien-chia Chuang, Marine Pellan, Abhijit Gadkari- Dermatology
Abstract
Background
Few large-scale international studies broadly characterized the burden of atopic dermatitis (AD) across age groups among children and adolescents.
Objective
To better characterize the AD burden in pediatric subjects by disease severity.
Methods
This cross-sectional, web-based survey of pediatric subjects (6 months to <18 years old) was conducted in 18 countries representing North America, Latin America, Europe, Middle East/Eurasia, and East Asia. Subjects with diagnosed AD were identified based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood criteria and self-/parent-report of ever being told by a physician that they/their child had eczema. AD severity was assessed using Patient Oriented Eczema Measure and Patient Global Assessment. Outcomes included measures of itch, skin pain, sleep, health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL), missed school days, and atopic comorbidities.
Results
The survey included 1489 children 6 months to < 6 years; 2898 children 6 to < 12 years; and 3078 adolescents 12 to < 18 years diagnosed with AD. Although the burden of mild AD was substantial, pediatric subjects with moderate or severe AD had more itch, skin pain, sleep problems, and impaired HRQoL, and missed more school days relative to those with mild AD; greater burden was observed among severe relative to moderate AD. At least one atopic comorbidity was present in 92·5% of all respondents.
Conclusions
These results highlight the burden of AD in pediatric subjects especially those with moderate-to-severe disease, and suggest the need for assessments that include the impact of AD on function and daily life.