Quality of life measures in Italian children with atopic dermatitis and their families

Abstract

BackgroundThe impact of atopic dermatitis (AD) on children's quality of life (QoL) in US and European countries is relatively well known, though rarely evaluated in the Italian population. Moreover, the association between child age and QoL has not been enough investigated, even though few studies detected a worse QoL in youngest AD children. The aim of the study was to evaluate the QoL in an Italian sample of atopic children and their families, also exploring a possible association with child age.Methods60 AD children aged between 1-12 years and their mothers completed specific QoL questionnaires (IDQoL/CDLQI, DFI) and a clinician completed a measure of AD severity (SCORAD).ResultsAD severity (Objective SCORAD) significantly correlated with QoL measures. Severe AD children showed higher IDQoL/CDLQI and DFI scores compared to mild and moderate AD groups (P = 0.006 and P < 0.0005, respectively), but only DFI scores differed in these last two conditions (P = 0.014). DFI scores negatively correlated with children's age (P = 0.046), but did not differ when considering child age ranges. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed a significant association between Objective SCORAD and QoL measures.ConclusionsA strong association between severe AD and poor QoL, both in children and mothers, was found in the Italian sample, in line with the international literature. Family's QoL scores were sensitively related to AD severity, more than the child's QoL, emphasising that the disease has a deep impact on the family. A significant association between age and QoL was only partially found and needs further investigation.

Correlation between Objective SCORAD and Three-Item Severity Score Used by Physicians and Objective PO-SCORAD Used by Parents/Patients in Children with Atopic Dermatitis

“…Only a few studies have examined the correlation between the Objective SCORAD and the QoL in children <4 years old using the IDQoL, and the conclusions of those studies are conflicting [25,26,27,28,38,39]. We found that the subjective QoL scores of the children were positively correlated with the objective severity assessments of AD when using the Objective SCORAD, with a significant and good correlation in both the older and the younger age group.…”

“…Previous studies of relationships between objective severity assessment and QoL in children with AD are conflicting [24,25,26,27,28]. …”

Italian Validation of the Childhood Atopic Dermatitis Impact Scale: A Contribution to Its Clinical Application

“…The onset of the disease in the first years of life (Kay et al, 1994) implies an impact on the emotional, economical, physical, and social well-being of the whole family (Balkrishnan et al, 2003;Mozaffari et al, 2007;Chamlin and Chren, 2010). Taking care of a child with AD, in fact, entails an extra work for parents, tied to the daily care and treatment of the child (Elliott and Luker, 1997); many studies have evidenced how the whole family is influenced in terms of lower social support, higher stress tied to one's own parental role, and greater difficulties in managing discipline (Daud et al, 1993;Ricci et al, 2007;Monti et al, 2011).…”

Atopic Dermatitis in Cameroon: Quality of Life and Psychiatric Comorbidities among Affected Children and Adolescents Running Head: Atopic Dermatitis and Psychiatric Impairments

“…Several studies have found a significant association between severity of AD and QoL [9,10]. Although subjects with AD show no specific psychological disturbances, sometimes they are anxious and the disease interferes in their relationships with their entourage, which can lead to withdrawal [11].…”