Impact of atopic dermatitis on the quality of life of Saudi children

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of atopic dermatitis (AD) on the quality of life (QoL) of Saudi infants and children using a validated/culturally adapted Arabic version of the infants’ dermatitis quality of life (IDQoL) index, and to investigate the correlation between IDQoL and disease severity.

METHODS: This study was performed in the Dermatology Clinics and Hospitals affiliated to Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia between September 2012 and August 2013. The study was designed to investigate the role of IDQoL in AD patients with different severities. The AD patients (n=630) were evaluated for IDQoL and disease severity using the SCORing of Atopic Dermatitis index.

RESULTS: The average (+/=standard deviation) of IDQoL score was 12.3+/=5.1 for all studied subjects. The IDQoL scores were significantly different among the 3 studied severity groups, with a highest score in the severe group (p=0.000). A positive correlation was observed between the severity of AD and IDQoL scores (r=0.596, p=0.000). Three items with a negative impact on IDQoL were itching and scratching, the child’s mood, and time to get the child to sleep. All these reached a significantly higher value in the severe group compared with the moderate or mild groups (p=0.000). No significant differences were observed concerning gender or the association with other atopic disorders (p=0.99, and p=0.79).

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that AD manifestations impaired the IDQoL of Saudi patients and were also well correlated with the disease severity score.