The Influence of Atopic Dermatitis on Health-Related Quality of Life in Bangladesh

Abir Nagata, Taheruzzaman Kazi, Zubaida Akter, Fariha Afrin Nody, Mohammad Shahriar Khan, Abu Saleh Muhammad Shahriar, Md Sayeedul Islam, Takatoshi Nakagawa and Shigeki Inui
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Abir Nagata: Department of Regenerative Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan
Taheruzzaman Kazi: Department of Regenerative Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan
Zubaida Akter: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh
Fariha Afrin Nody: Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital and Research Institute, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
Mohammad Shahriar Khan: International Platform for Dryland Research and Education, Tottori University, Tottori 680-0001, Japan
Abu Saleh Muhammad Shahriar: Department of Periodontology and Oral Pathology, University Dental College, Dhaka 1217, Bangladesh
Md Sayeedul Islam: Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka 560-0043, Japan
Takatoshi Nakagawa: Department of Regenerative Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan
Shigeki Inui: Department of Regenerative Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 21, 1-13

Abstract: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the foremost non-fatal skin-related disease that affects all age groups. Despite the growing prevalence of AD in low- and middle-income countries, its physiological consequences remain overlooked in countries like Bangladesh. Therefore, we aim to assess and characterize the influence of AD on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Bangladeshi patients. A cross-sectional study comprising 184 eligible adults (83 men and 101 women; mean age, 33.46 ± 15.44 years) was conducted at the dermatology outpatient department of Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital (a tertiary hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh). AD was determined using the UK Working Party criteria. A structured questionnaire, Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) were administered to obtain information on patient characteristics, AD severity, and HRQoL. The mean DLQI score for the entire sample was 11.29 ± 5.27 (range, 1–26), and 51.60% reported the disease greatly affected their lives. Bivariate analysis revealed significant differences in self-rated health measures of DLQI scores in terms of self-reported AD severity, overall health, and the EASI. In multivariable regression models adjusted for patient characteristics, the self-perceived severe AD group reported significantly higher DLQI scores (coefficient = 2.72; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.38–5.05; p = 0.022) than the mild group. Concurrently, we observed a substantial increase in the DLQI scores among patients with moderate and severe EASI scores (coefficient = 1.96, 95% CI = 0.08–3.92, p < 0.05 and coefficient = 4.35, 95% CI = 1.98–6.72, p < 0.001, respectively) than in those with mild EASI scores, suggesting that HRQoL was markedly influenced by greater AD severity. These findings highlight the need for a more patient-centric approach to the management of AD in order to alleviate patient suffering and, thereby, improve HRQoL.

Keywords: atopic dermatitis; disease severity; Dermatology Life Quality Index; Eczema Area and Severity Index; health-related quality of life (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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