The Quality of Life and its Relationship to Disease Severity in Children with Atopic Dermatitis

Abstract

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory skin condition in children, characterized by pruritus, recurrent eczematous lesions, and fluctuating severity. Beyond its dermatological manifestations, AD imposes a significant psychosocial and functional burden on patients and their families. Objective: This study aimed to determine the correlation between quality of life and disease severity among Pakistani children with atopic dermatitis. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Dermatology, Pakistan Airforce (PAF) Hospital, Islamabad, over six months (January–June 2022). Seventy children aged 5–15 years, diagnosed with AD by Hanifin and Rajka criteria, were enrolled. Disease severity was assessed using the Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index, and quality of life was measured using the Children’s Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, with Pearson’s correlation applied to evaluate relationships between SCORAD and CDLQI scores. Results: The mean age of participants was 10.2±2.8 years . According to SCORAD, 22.9% had mild, 70% moderate, and 7.1% severe disease. The mean SCORAD and CDLQI scores were 25.3 ± 8.0 and 9.8 ± 4.0, respectively. A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between disease severity and quality-of-life impairment (r = 0.289, p = 0.015). Conclusion: Greater disease severity is associated with a higher degree of quality-of-life impairment among Pakistani children with atopic dermatitis. Regular use of standardized tools such as SCORAD and CDLQI can help clinicians identify patients requiring holistic care, including psychological and social support.