Posters included recent research covering a variety of aspects of atopic dermatitis.
High Rates of Depression in US Adults With AD
Adults with atopic dermatitis (AD) have higher rates of depression, with 1 in 3 adults with AD meeting the criteria for major depressive disorder, according to a recent e-poster presented at the 74th Annual American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) meeting in Washington, DC.
Yu and colleagues concluded that greater surveillance and treatment of mental health disturbances in adults with AD is warranted and patients may benefit from increased depression screening. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 is an extensively validated easy questionnaire, they added.
Prevalence and severity of depression in US adults with AD is not well-defined in the literature. The study used the 2005-2006 National Health Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and the 2012 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), which randomly sampled the US population. NHANES respondents answered questions from the PHQ. NHIS respondents were asked about their history of depression and depression in the past year.
Results from the NHANES included 5555 adults with 6.2% prevalence of AD, with 31% of adults with AD reporting greater than or equal to one symptom of depression. Results from the NHIS included 34,613 adults with 7.2% prevalence of AD. AD was associated with increased lifetime prevalence of diagnosed depression and higher odds of depression in the past year. Overall, adults with AD have higher rates of depression, they concluded.
Reference
Yu S, Silverberg J. Adults with atopic dermatitis have high rates of depression in the United States. Poster presented at: 74th Annual Meeting American Academy of Dermatology, meeting; March 4-8, 2016; Washington, DC.
QoL in Pediatric Patients With Chronic Pruritus
A poster, presented at the 74th Annual AAD meeting in Washington, DC, looked at chronic pruritus and its impact on quality of life (QoL).
The study by Seamens and colleagues included children aged 8 to 17 years who reported itch for greater than 6 weeks. The researchers administered the KidsItchyQoL, a 35-item QoL instrument that asked about the social, emotional, and functional impact of their itch during the past week on a 4-point Likert scale. The researchers selected items in which at least 70% of individuals reported some impact of itch.
Analysis included the initial 21 participants, the majority having AD (76%) and with a median itch duration of 8 years. All of the participants reported scratching and the use of lotions, while 95% of participants reported worsening itch with changing seasons.
Additionally, the researchers noted that 71% of participants felt embarrassed and 76% worried how others perceived them. Participants’ responses showed functional impacts including sleep disturbances (81%), difficulty wearing certain clothes (71%), and trouble focusing on schoolwork (71%). The emotional consequences included responses such as patients most frequently feeling frustrated (91%), feeling like they were being “driven crazy” (81%), and difficulty making friends (33%). The most frequently reported skin symptoms were pain (81%), bleeding (76%), and scarring (86%).
Chronic itch has a substantial impact on social and daily functioning and as well as considerable emotional impacts, the researchers said, adding that evaluating more patients will better clarify the influence on QoL and its impact.
Reference
Seamens A, Chen S, Greskovich C, Lee G, Roberts J. The influence of itch: quality of life in pediatric patients with chronic pruritus. Poster presented at: 74th Annual American Academy of Dermatology meeting; March 4-8, 2016, Washington, DC.
NAMCS and NHAMCS Survey Shows Differences in AD Management
Dermatologists, pediatricians, and primary care practitioners play a role in the management of AD. A number of factors, such as topical corticosteroid (TCS) and emollient usage, may influence the therapeutic outcomes achieved in each patient.
Differences in the treatment of AD between these specialties are not well characterized in the literature. A recent study by McGregor and colleagues, which was presented in a poster at the 74th Annual AAD meeting in Washington, DC, aimed to determine if there is a difference between dermatologists and physicians in nondermatology specialties with regard to treatment strategies for AD and whether those treatments are in line with current guideline recommendations.
The study used data from the 1993-2010 National Ambulatory Medical Care (NAMCS) and the National Hospital Ambulatory Care (NHAMCS) Surveys to characterize outpatient visits made for AD to outpatient offices (NAMCS) and hospital outpatient departments and hospital emergency rooms (NHAMCS).
A mean estimated 3.7 million visits for AD were made to outpatient offices and hospital departments annually from 1993 to 2010. This included patients younger than 14 years, which accounted for 2.9 million of the annual visits. The per capita visit rates for AD were similar when evaluated by gender and season. Caucasians were almost 50% less likely than African Americans or individuals of other minority races to visit a doctor for AD.
Overall, there were significantly fewer visits related to AD in the Midwest states. The Caucasian population accounted for the majority of patients in this study, but the annual visit rate among African Americans and other minority races was significantly greater. Differences in visit rates may be due to differences in disease prevalence, disease severity, or access to treatment, the researchers noted.
TCS were mentioned in approximately 50% of office visits, and the dermatologists were more likely than non-dermatologists to prescribe TCS, emollients, and topical calcineurin inhibitors. Additionally, the results showed that overall utilization of topical calcineurin inhibitors decreased. Use was significantly greater from 2000 to 2005 compared with 2006 to 2010. Concern over the 2006 FDA black box warning regarding an increased risk of malignancy may have led to this reduction in utilization, they observed.
The study analysis also demonstrated that dermatologists were more likely to prescribe super- and high-potency TCS in comparison to (unspecified) nondermatology specialities, and the differences may ultimately affect patient care, they said. Limitations of the study included no direct measure of AD severity and the potential for selection bias, they added.
Reference
McGregor S, Farhangian M, Feldman S, Huang K. Treatment of atopic dermatitis in the United States: analysis of Data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. Poster presented at: 74th Annual American Academy meeting of Dermatology, March 4-8, 2016, in Washington, D.C.
Posters included recent research covering a variety of aspects of atopic dermatitis.
High Rates of Depression in US Adults With AD
Adults with atopic dermatitis (AD) have higher rates of depression, with 1 in 3 adults with AD meeting the criteria for major depressive disorder, according to a recent e-poster presented at the 74th Annual American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) meeting in Washington, DC.
Yu and colleagues concluded that greater surveillance and treatment of mental health disturbances in adults with AD is warranted and patients may benefit from increased depression screening. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 is an extensively validated easy questionnaire, they added.
Prevalence and severity of depression in US adults with AD is not well-defined in the literature. The study used the 2005-2006 National Health Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and the 2012 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), which randomly sampled the US population. NHANES respondents answered questions from the PHQ. NHIS respondents were asked about their history of depression and depression in the past year.
Results from the NHANES included 5555 adults with 6.2% prevalence of AD, with 31% of adults with AD reporting greater than or equal to one symptom of depression. Results from the NHIS included 34,613 adults with 7.2% prevalence of AD. AD was associated with increased lifetime prevalence of diagnosed depression and higher odds of depression in the past year. Overall, adults with AD have higher rates of depression, they concluded.
Reference
Yu S, Silverberg J. Adults with atopic dermatitis have high rates of depression in the United States. Poster presented at: 74th Annual Meeting American Academy of Dermatology, meeting; March 4-8, 2016; Washington, DC.
QoL in Pediatric Patients With Chronic Pruritus
A poster, presented at the 74th Annual AAD meeting in Washington, DC, looked at chronic pruritus and its impact on quality of life (QoL).
The study by Seamens and colleagues included children aged 8 to 17 years who reported itch for greater than 6 weeks. The researchers administered the KidsItchyQoL, a 35-item QoL instrument that asked about the social, emotional, and functional impact of their itch during the past week on a 4-point Likert scale. The researchers selected items in which at least 70% of individuals reported some impact of itch.
Analysis included the initial 21 participants, the majority having AD (76%) and with a median itch duration of 8 years. All of the participants reported scratching and the use of lotions, while 95% of participants reported worsening itch with changing seasons.
Additionally, the researchers noted that 71% of participants felt embarrassed and 76% worried how others perceived them. Participants’ responses showed functional impacts including sleep disturbances (81%), difficulty wearing certain clothes (71%), and trouble focusing on schoolwork (71%). The emotional consequences included responses such as patients most frequently feeling frustrated (91%), feeling like they were being “driven crazy” (81%), and difficulty making friends (33%). The most frequently reported skin symptoms were pain (81%), bleeding (76%), and scarring (86%).
Chronic itch has a substantial impact on social and daily functioning and as well as considerable emotional impacts, the researchers said, adding that evaluating more patients will better clarify the influence on QoL and its impact.
Reference
Seamens A, Chen S, Greskovich C, Lee G, Roberts J. The influence of itch: quality of life in pediatric patients with chronic pruritus. Poster presented at: 74th Annual American Academy of Dermatology meeting; March 4-8, 2016, Washington, DC.
NAMCS and NHAMCS Survey Shows Differences in AD Management
Dermatologists, pediatricians, and primary care practitioners play a role in the management of AD. A number of factors, such as topical corticosteroid (TCS) and emollient usage, may influence the therapeutic outcomes achieved in each patient.
Differences in the treatment of AD between these specialties are not well characterized in the literature. A recent study by McGregor and colleagues, which was presented in a poster at the 74th Annual AAD meeting in Washington, DC, aimed to determine if there is a difference between dermatologists and physicians in nondermatology specialties with regard to treatment strategies for AD and whether those treatments are in line with current guideline recommendations.
The study used data from the 1993-2010 National Ambulatory Medical Care (NAMCS) and the National Hospital Ambulatory Care (NHAMCS) Surveys to characterize outpatient visits made for AD to outpatient offices (NAMCS) and hospital outpatient departments and hospital emergency rooms (NHAMCS).
A mean estimated 3.7 million visits for AD were made to outpatient offices and hospital departments annually from 1993 to 2010. This included patients younger than 14 years, which accounted for 2.9 million of the annual visits. The per capita visit rates for AD were similar when evaluated by gender and season. Caucasians were almost 50% less likely than African Americans or individuals of other minority races to visit a doctor for AD.
Overall, there were significantly fewer visits related to AD in the Midwest states. The Caucasian population accounted for the majority of patients in this study, but the annual visit rate among African Americans and other minority races was significantly greater. Differences in visit rates may be due to differences in disease prevalence, disease severity, or access to treatment, the researchers noted.
TCS were mentioned in approximately 50% of office visits, and the dermatologists were more likely than non-dermatologists to prescribe TCS, emollients, and topical calcineurin inhibitors. Additionally, the results showed that overall utilization of topical calcineurin inhibitors decreased. Use was significantly greater from 2000 to 2005 compared with 2006 to 2010. Concern over the 2006 FDA black box warning regarding an increased risk of malignancy may have led to this reduction in utilization, they observed.
The study analysis also demonstrated that dermatologists were more likely to prescribe super- and high-potency TCS in comparison to (unspecified) nondermatology specialities, and the differences may ultimately affect patient care, they said. Limitations of the study included no direct measure of AD severity and the potential for selection bias, they added.
Reference
McGregor S, Farhangian M, Feldman S, Huang K. Treatment of atopic dermatitis in the United States: analysis of Data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. Poster presented at: 74th Annual American Academy meeting of Dermatology, March 4-8, 2016, in Washington, D.C.
Posters included recent research covering a variety of aspects of atopic dermatitis.
High Rates of Depression in US Adults With AD
Adults with atopic dermatitis (AD) have higher rates of depression, with 1 in 3 adults with AD meeting the criteria for major depressive disorder, according to a recent e-poster presented at the 74th Annual American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) meeting in Washington, DC.
Yu and colleagues concluded that greater surveillance and treatment of mental health disturbances in adults with AD is warranted and patients may benefit from increased depression screening. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 is an extensively validated easy questionnaire, they added.
Prevalence and severity of depression in US adults with AD is not well-defined in the literature. The study used the 2005-2006 National Health Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and the 2012 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), which randomly sampled the US population. NHANES respondents answered questions from the PHQ. NHIS respondents were asked about their history of depression and depression in the past year.
Results from the NHANES included 5555 adults with 6.2% prevalence of AD, with 31% of adults with AD reporting greater than or equal to one symptom of depression. Results from the NHIS included 34,613 adults with 7.2% prevalence of AD. AD was associated with increased lifetime prevalence of diagnosed depression and higher odds of depression in the past year. Overall, adults with AD have higher rates of depression, they concluded.
Reference
Yu S, Silverberg J. Adults with atopic dermatitis have high rates of depression in the United States. Poster presented at: 74th Annual Meeting American Academy of Dermatology, meeting; March 4-8, 2016; Washington, DC.
QoL in Pediatric Patients With Chronic Pruritus
A poster, presented at the 74th Annual AAD meeting in Washington, DC, looked at chronic pruritus and its impact on quality of life (QoL).
The study by Seamens and colleagues included children aged 8 to 17 years who reported itch for greater than 6 weeks. The researchers administered the KidsItchyQoL, a 35-item QoL instrument that asked about the social, emotional, and functional impact of their itch during the past week on a 4-point Likert scale. The researchers selected items in which at least 70% of individuals reported some impact of itch.
Analysis included the initial 21 participants, the majority having AD (76%) and with a median itch duration of 8 years. All of the participants reported scratching and the use of lotions, while 95% of participants reported worsening itch with changing seasons.
Additionally, the researchers noted that 71% of participants felt embarrassed and 76% worried how others perceived them. Participants’ responses showed functional impacts including sleep disturbances (81%), difficulty wearing certain clothes (71%), and trouble focusing on schoolwork (71%). The emotional consequences included responses such as patients most frequently feeling frustrated (91%), feeling like they were being “driven crazy” (81%), and difficulty making friends (33%). The most frequently reported skin symptoms were pain (81%), bleeding (76%), and scarring (86%).
Chronic itch has a substantial impact on social and daily functioning and as well as considerable emotional impacts, the researchers said, adding that evaluating more patients will better clarify the influence on QoL and its impact.
Reference
Seamens A, Chen S, Greskovich C, Lee G, Roberts J. The influence of itch: quality of life in pediatric patients with chronic pruritus. Poster presented at: 74th Annual American Academy of Dermatology meeting; March 4-8, 2016, Washington, DC.
NAMCS and NHAMCS Survey Shows Differences in AD Management
Dermatologists, pediatricians, and primary care practitioners play a role in the management of AD. A number of factors, such as topical corticosteroid (TCS) and emollient usage, may influence the therapeutic outcomes achieved in each patient.
Differences in the treatment of AD between these specialties are not well characterized in the literature. A recent study by McGregor and colleagues, which was presented in a poster at the 74th Annual AAD meeting in Washington, DC, aimed to determine if there is a difference between dermatologists and physicians in nondermatology specialties with regard to treatment strategies for AD and whether those treatments are in line with current guideline recommendations.
The study used data from the 1993-2010 National Ambulatory Medical Care (NAMCS) and the National Hospital Ambulatory Care (NHAMCS) Surveys to characterize outpatient visits made for AD to outpatient offices (NAMCS) and hospital outpatient departments and hospital emergency rooms (NHAMCS).
A mean estimated 3.7 million visits for AD were made to outpatient offices and hospital departments annually from 1993 to 2010. This included patients younger than 14 years, which accounted for 2.9 million of the annual visits. The per capita visit rates for AD were similar when evaluated by gender and season. Caucasians were almost 50% less likely than African Americans or individuals of other minority races to visit a doctor for AD.
Overall, there were significantly fewer visits related to AD in the Midwest states. The Caucasian population accounted for the majority of patients in this study, but the annual visit rate among African Americans and other minority races was significantly greater. Differences in visit rates may be due to differences in disease prevalence, disease severity, or access to treatment, the researchers noted.
TCS were mentioned in approximately 50% of office visits, and the dermatologists were more likely than non-dermatologists to prescribe TCS, emollients, and topical calcineurin inhibitors. Additionally, the results showed that overall utilization of topical calcineurin inhibitors decreased. Use was significantly greater from 2000 to 2005 compared with 2006 to 2010. Concern over the 2006 FDA black box warning regarding an increased risk of malignancy may have led to this reduction in utilization, they observed.
The study analysis also demonstrated that dermatologists were more likely to prescribe super- and high-potency TCS in comparison to (unspecified) nondermatology specialities, and the differences may ultimately affect patient care, they said. Limitations of the study included no direct measure of AD severity and the potential for selection bias, they added.
Reference
McGregor S, Farhangian M, Feldman S, Huang K. Treatment of atopic dermatitis in the United States: analysis of Data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. Poster presented at: 74th Annual American Academy meeting of Dermatology, March 4-8, 2016, in Washington, D.C.
