Impact of itch and skin pain on quality of life in adult patients with atopic dermatitis in Japan: results from a real-world, point-in-time, survey of physicians and patients

Objective Itch is a common symptom of atopic dermatitis (AD), however, there is limited evidence of the frequency and association of skin pain alongside itch. This study assessed the incremental dual burden and impact of itch and skin pain on satisfaction, quality of life and work productivity in patients with AD in Japan.Methods Data were drawn from the 2020 Adelphi AD Disease Specific Programme, a point-in-time survey of dermatologists (n = 56) and their patients with history of moderate/severe AD (n = 265). Patients were grouped accordingly: no itch/skin pain (No I/SP, reference group, n = 89), itch/no skin pain (I-only, n = 71), and itch and skin pain (I + SP, n = 26). Descriptive analyses were performed alongside a range of regression models, dependent on outcome variables.Results I + SP patients had a 4.97-point worse POEM score (p = .005) and 14.5% more overall work impairment (p = .034) versus the reference group. I-only and I + SP patients were 8.92 and 23.5 times more likely, respectively, to experience sleep disruption on a day-to-day basis (both p < .001). I + SP patients were 4.6 times more likely to be bothered by their symptoms (p = .034), had a mean EASI score 6.7 points higher (p = .008) and had 1.39 more areas affected (p = .001). I + SP patients were 7.26 times more likely to express dissatisfaction with lack of improvement in their condition and 8 times more likely to be dissatisfied with convenience of treatment (both p < .05).Conclusion This dissatisfaction, alongside variations in reported symptomatic burdens, suggests that physicians could consider alternative and/or novel therapeutic approaches for the management of both itch and skin pain.