BACKGROUND: Alopecia areata (AA) is associated with reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and patients with AA also experience psychosocial symptoms that can influence their participation in activities, including work. OBJECTIVE: To describe work productivity loss and HRQOL in AA. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we administered a web-based questionnaire to adults self-reporting AA recruited from a patient organization. AA severity was assessed using the 6-domain Alopecia and Areata Patient Priority Outcomes Questionnaire, productivity loss was evaluated using the Valuation of Lost Productivity Questionnaire and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire, and HRQOL was assessed using the Veterans-Rand 12 Questionnaire. Linear regression was used to measure the association between AA severity and the outcomes. RESULTS: Our final sample of 51 participants was predominantly women (n = 46), White race (n = 37), and working (n = 36). Unadjusted regressions showed that a 1-point increase in the emotional symptoms (ES) domain or activity limitations (AL) domain from AA was associated with increased total productivity loss (49.7 hours 95% CI: 11.5-87.9 and 40.4 hours 4.5-76.4), paid productivity loss (33.8 hours 3.8-63.8 and 40.7 hours 16.1-65.3), and worse HRQOL (-0.094 -0.164 to -0.025 and -0.087 -0.152 to -0.022). Percentages of work impairment and activity impairment also increased with higher ES and AL. CONCLUSIONS: Greater ES and AL due to AA were associated with greater impairment in participants' regular activities in our small sample. Further research is needed in a larger, more representative sample of working adults with AA to elucidate findings.
Tam et al. (Sun,) studied this question.