Using the Japanese Version of Skindex-16 and DLQI to Measure the QOL of New Outpatients with Atopic Dermatitis

Abstract

We used the Japanese version of Skindex-16 and DLQI to assess the quality of life (QOL) of 224 patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) among 2,643 new Japanese outpatients who visited the Department of Dermatology, Kyushu University Hospital from January 2007 to December 2008, We found that the QOL of AD patients was more severely impaired than that of patients with other skin diseases. There were no differences in QOL between male and female AD patients; however, the women had a worse QOL compared to men with other conditions. In addition, the QOL of AD patients was impaired irrespective of age, whereas younger patients with other illnesses tended to have a poorer QOL than older ones.