Skin diseases have large impact on patients' well-being

(HealthDay)—Skin diseases affect quality of life differently across distinct aspects of the EuroQoL five dimension questionnaire (EQ5D), according to a study published online Dec. 29 in the British Journal of Dermatology.

Flora Balieva, from Stavanger University Hospital in Norway, and colleagues used the EQ5D to measure health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) in patients with common skin diseases and healthy controls in 13 countries across Europe. Data were included from 5,369 participants: 4,010 patients and 1,359 controls.

The researchers found that the mean EQ-visual analogue scale scores were 10.5 points lower for patients than controls after adjustment for confounding factors, including comorbidity. After adjustment for confounders, the odds ratio for impairment in all five dimensions of EQ5D was double for patients versus controls. The highest risk for reduction in HRQoL in most dimensions was seen for patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), blistering conditions, leg ulcers, psoriasis, and eczemas.

"This study confirms the large impact skin conditions have on patients' well-being, differentiating between aspects of HRQoL," the authors write. "Patients with HS, blistering diseases, leg ulcers, infections, and most chronic skin diseases reported reduced HRQoL comparable to patients with chronic obstructive lung disease, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and cancers. These findings are important in the prioritization of resource allocation between medical fields and within dermatological subspecialties."

Copyright © 2017 HealthDay. All rights reserved.