Summary Atopic dermatitis (also known as AD or eczema) is a common skin disease which is seen in all countries. It is most common in childhood, and we do not know exactly how common it is in adults. This study reports on a postal survey of adults with AD in France, Germany, the UK, and the USA. The investigators were from the pharmaceutical companies, Leo and Astra Zeneca. Participants completed two surveys, one of which concerned the severity of their skin condition, and the other which recorded any impairment in their ability to carry out work (their employment). Both used questionnaires that had been successfully tested and correctly used previously. 1098 respondents were found to have moderate to severe forms of eczema. The study found that if they had reduced work capacity (i.e. were less able to work) this was directly related to the severity of the AD. For instance, for overall work impairment due to AD, respondents with mild AD reported a mean of 2.4 hours per week of potential work productivity lost, respondents with moderate AD 9.6 hours and respondents with severe AD 19.0 hours. The overall impairment in the capacity of those affected to carry out their daily activities was different in different countries; for instance, in those participants with moderate AD the reduction was 26.7% for all participants, 34.0% for those living in Europe, and 15.2% for those in the USA. The difference was thought to be due to differences in access to social and economic support in different countries. The investigation confirms that moderate or severe atopic dermatitis can have a significant and detrimental effect on the ability of adults with the disease to carry out their normal employment. This is a summary of the study: Increasing severity of atopic dermatitis is associated with a negative impact on work productivity among adults with atopic dermatitis in France, Germany, the U.K. and the U.S.A.

Summary 特应性皮炎(也称为 AD 或湿疹)是一种常见的皮肤病,见于所有国家。最常见于儿童时期,我们不知道它在成人中究竟有多常见。本研究报告了法国、德国、英国和美国 AD 成人患者的邮寄问卷调查。研究者来自制药公司利奥制药和阿斯利康制药。参与者完成了两项问卷调查,其中一项调查涉及其皮肤状况的严重程度,另一项问卷调查记录了其从事工作(就业)能力的任何损害。两者均使用了之前已成功测试并正确使用的问卷。1098 名被调查者被发现患有中重度湿疹。研究发现,如果他们的工作能力降低(即无法像以前一样工作),这与 AD 的严重程度直接相关。例如,对于 AD 导致的总体工作障碍,轻度 AD 被调查者报告平均每周 2.4 小时的潜在工作效率丧失,中度 AD 被调查者为 9.6 小时,重度 AD 被调查者为 19.0 小时。在不同国家,受影响的受试者进行日常活动能力的总体损害不同;例如,在中度 AD 受试者中,所有参与者的降低率为 26.7%,生活在欧洲的参与者为 34.0%,美国参与者为 15.2%。这种差异被认为是由于不同国家在获得社会和经济支持方面的差异造成的。研究证实,中度或重度特应性皮炎会对该疾病成人进行正常就业的能力产生显著和不利影响。本摘要涉及研究:在法国、德国、英国和美国,特应性皮炎严重程度的增加与特应性皮炎成人患者工作效率的负面影响相关。