The number of type 2 inflammation comorbidities in atopic dermatitis or asthma is associated with work productivity and activity impairment (WPAI) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL)

Background Type 2 inflammation (T2I) plays a major role in atopic dermatitis (AD) and asthma, and is associated with work productivity and activity impairment (WPAI) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, the cumulative effect of multiple T2I comorbidities remains unclear. We aimed to investigate whether an increased number of T2I comorbidities was associated with WPAI and HRQoL among individuals with AD or asthma and T2I comorbidities in Japan. Methods This retrospective observational study used commercially available data from the 2020 and 2021 Japan National Health and Wellness Surveys, and included individuals with self-reported AD/asthma. The primary outcome was to assess WPAI in each study cohort; secondary outcomes included assessing HRQoL. Results Among the analyzed individuals (AD, N = 957 in 2021; asthma, N = 746 in 2020), approximately half had ≥ 1 additional T2I comorbidity (hay fever, food allergy, asthma/AD, nasal polyps). Both cohorts had substantial overall WPAI (26.6–28.9% of patients). In the AD cohort, individuals with one, two, or three additional T2I comorbidities experienced 4.7%, 5.5%, and 12.1% more overall work impairment, respectively, than those with no comorbidities; the corresponding differences in the asthma cohort were 6.7%, 12.5%, and 13.9%, respectively. Concurrently, several components of HRQoL worsened progressively as the number and burden of T2I comorbidities increased. Conclusion Given that there is considerable correlation between the number of T2I comorbidities and WPAI and HRQoL, comprehensive management of T2I diseases may be crucial for patient care.