Depression, anxiety and quality of life in subjects with atopic eczema in a population-based cross-sectional study in Germany
Loading...
Date
2020-04
Open Access Location
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology
Rights
(c) 2019 The Author/s
CC BY 4.0
CC BY 4.0
Abstract
Background
Atopic eczema (AE) may be associated with several mental health problems. In Germany, existing data from selected patient cohorts may lead to misestimation of the problem.
Objectives
We aimed to cross-sectionally determine associations of AE with depression, anxiety, quality of life (QoL) and social interactions in subjects from the population-based LIFE-Adult-Study.
Methods
Subjects underwent standardized interviews (medical history) and answered standardized questionnaires [Centre of Epidemiologic studies-Depression scale (CES-D), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS), Short Form Health Survey (SF-8)]. We compared data from subjects with AE with those from subjects with selected other chronic/disabling diseases (cardiovascular, diabetes, cancer) and adjusted for selected sociodemographic parameters. Multivariate binary logistic regression was used for categorical variables, linear regression for continuous variables.
Results
Out of 9104 adults included (57% female, median age 54 years), 372 (4.1%) had a history of AE. Compared with controls, subjects with AE showed higher scores for depressive symptoms (9.3% vs. 6.3%; P < 0.001) and anxiety (8.4% vs. 5.6%, P < 0.001). Odds ratio (OR) was 1.5 [CI 1.0; 2.3] (P = 0.031) for depression, which was comparable to OR in patients with a history of cancer (OR 1.6 [1–2.3], P = 0.001. OR for anxiety in AE was 1.5 [1.0; 2.2], P < 0.049, which was slightly higher than in diabetes mellitus (OR 1.2) and stroke (OR 1.4). Other than in diabetes and/or stroke, we did not find a significant association between AE and social isolation. QoL scores were lower in AE than in controls (mean 46.9 vs. 48.0, P < 0.001 for physical and 50.6 vs. 52.5, P < 0.001 for mental components).
Conclusions
Subjects with AE showed higher values for depression and anxiety as well as lower QoL scores compared to controls. With regard to depression, odds in AE and cancer were hardly different. Medical care of AE patients should therefore include mental health evaluation and treatment if indicated.
Description
Keywords
Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Anxiety, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depression, Eczema, Female, Germany, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Quality of Life, Social Isolation, Surveys and Questionnaires
Citation
Treudler R, Zeynalova S, Riedel-Heller SG, Zuelke AE, Roehr S, Hinz A, Glaesmer H, Kage P, Loeffler M, Simon JC. (2020). Depression, anxiety and quality of life in subjects with atopic eczema in a population-based cross-sectional study in Germany.. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 34. 4. (pp. 810-816).