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Morbidity and cost of atopic eczema in Australia
Author(s) -
Jenner Nicole,
Campbell Jan,
Marks Robin
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
australasian journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.67
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1440-0960
pISSN - 0004-8380
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-0960.2004.00046.x
Subject(s) - medicine , dermatology , medline , political science , law
SUMMARY The severity, morbidity and financial costs of atopic eczema (AE) were assessed during a 1‐year prospective study of a cohort of 85 people aged 14–63 years (mean 36 years) with the disease. A dermatologist examined each participant using the Six Area Six Sign Atopic Dermatitis severity scoring system to classify severity. Participants completed a Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), a Nottingham Eczema Severity Score (NESS) and an ongoing diary of health‐care consultations and treatment costs. Follow up by mail to each participant was conducted every 2 months and participants completed a NESS, a DLQI and a diary of costs incurred. The DLQI data revealed that 36% spent over 10 min per day applying treatments, 28% indicated that AE influenced the clothes they wore, 21% felt embarrassed by their skin and 15% reported problems with treatments. There appeared to be a relationship between increased morbidity and increased severity. The average annual out‐of‐pocket cost for products used for treatment was A$425, ranging from A$13.50 to over A$2000 per individual. The average out‐of‐pocket cost for medical consultations was A$120, ranging from zero to over A$800 per individual. Although there were concerns about the reproducibility of the severity and morbidity measures, the data showed that AE can have substantial effects both financially and from a personal perspective for those affected.