N. Patel

Severity strata for Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), modified EASI, Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD), objective SCORAD, Atopic Dermatitis Severity Index and body surface area in adolescents and adults with atopic dermatitis

Scoring systems for assessing the signs of atopic dermatitis (AD) are complex and difficult to interpret. Severity strata are helpful to interpret these assessments properly.

Burden of skin pain in atopic dermatitis

BACKGROUND Atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with itch, skin inflammation and barrier disruption, and scratching, all of which may be associated with skin pain. OBJECTIVE To characterize the patient burden of skin pain in AD. METHODS We performed a prospective dermatology practice-based study using questionnaires and evaluation by a dermatologist. RESULTS Overall, 305 patients (age range, 13-97 years) were included in the study, with 564 encounters. The cohort included 195 females (63.9%) and 193 whites (63.7%). The mean (SD) age at enrollment was 42.3 (18.1) years, and the mean (SD) age of patient-reported AD onset was 29.6 (31.9) years. At baseline, 144 patients (42.7%) reported skin pain in the past week, with 42 (13.8%) reporting severe or very severe pain. Twenty-four (16.8%) thought the skin pain was part of their itch, 16 (11.2%) from scratching, and 77 (72.0%) from both. Patients with skin pain were more likely to describe their itch using terms that resembled neuropathic pain. Prevalence of skin pain was increased in patients with vs without excoriations (72.6% vs 57.6%; χ2 test P = .02) but not other morphologic characteristics. Skin pain severity was most strongly correlated with the Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (Spearman ρ = 0.54), followed by ItchyQOL (ρ = 0.52), 5-dimensions of itch scale (ρ = 0.47), Dermatology Life Quality Index (ρ = 0.45), numeric rating scale for itch (ρ = 0.43) and sleep (ρ = 0.36), Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (ρ = 0.36), patient-reported global AD severity (ρ = 0.34), Eczema Area and Severity Index (ρ = 0.23), and objective Scoring AD index (ρ = 0.20) (P < .001 for all). Patients with both severe itch and pain vs those with only one or neither symptom being severe had significant increases in all these measures. CONCLUSION Skin pain is a common and burdensome symptom in AD. Skin pain severity should be assessed with itch severity in AD patients and may be an important end point for monitoring treatment response.

Validation of patient-reported global severity of atopic dermatitis in adults

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with a heterogeneous presentation and clinical course. There is a lack of simple and validated severity assessments that are feasible for clinical practice and epidemiological research.

Severity strata for five patient-reported outcomes in adults with atopic dermatitis

Several patient‐reported outcomes have been used to assess the burden of atopic dermatitis (AD). Some are disease specific, such as the Patient‐Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM), while others pertain to itch, for example the numerical rating scale (NRS)‐itch, ItchyQoL and 5‐D itch, or dermatological disease in general, for example the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Development of severity strata is essential for proper interpretability of these assessments.

Relationship between EASI and SCORAD severity assessments for atopic dermatitis

Capsule Summary The present study shows a complex relationship between EASI and SCORAD. The results provide support for inclusion of objective-SCORAD and/or SCORAD in addition to EASI in clinical trials.

Measurement properties of three assessments of burden used in atopic dermatitis in adults

Standardized quality‐of‐life (QoL) assessments can provide important and clinically relevant information. There is currently a lack of standardization in QoL assessments used in atopic dermatitis (AD).