Work Productivity Loss and Health-Related Quality of Life in People Living with Atopic Dermatitis: A Canada-Wide Cross-Sectional Study

Background: As new therapies for atopic dermatitis (AD) are developed, it is increasingly important to assess how AD impacts patient-reported outcomes. Objective: To quantify productivity loss, work impairment, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among individuals with different levels of AD severity. Methods: Employed adults from across Canada with a history of AD completed a web-based questionnaire. AD severity was assessed using the Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure; productivity loss, work impairment, and HRQOL were evaluated by the Valuation of Lost Productivity, Work Productivity and Activity Impairment, and Veterans RAND 12-item Health Survey (VR-12) questionnaires, respectively. The association between outcomes and AD severity was evaluated using multiple linear regression. Results: Among the 200 participants, productivity loss increased with AD severity, but this was not statistically significant. Work impairment was greater in those with moderate (adjusted difference 13.6%[95% CI: 3.0, 24.1]) and severe to very severe AD (adjusted difference 20.5%[95% CI: 8.3, 32.7]) compared to those with no or mild AD. VR-12 health utility was lower for individuals with moderate (adjusted difference -0.08[95% CI: -0.16, -0.01]) and severe to very severe AD (adjusted difference -0.17[95% CI: -0.26, -0.08]) compared to those with mild or no AD. Conclusions: Greater AD severity was associated with greater work impairment and worse HRQOL.