Browsing by Author "Maksimovic, N. (12772951900)"

Background: Previous studies exploring the impact of atopic dermatitis (AD) in children focused on factors associated with parental quality of life at one point in time. Objective: To examine factors associated with change of quality of life among parents of children affected with AD. Methods: The study cohort comprised 98 parent–children pairs treated for AD at the Clinic of Dermatovenereology; however, 18 parents (18.4%) were lost to follow-up after 1 year. Children were assessed with SCORing Atopic Dermatitis Index (SCORAD) and Children Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) or the Infants’ Dermatitis Quality of Life Index (IDQOL), depending on their age. Parents filled in socio-demographic questionnaire and Dermatitis Family Impact Questionnaire (DFI). After 1 year, both children and parents were reassessed using the same AD-related battery of questionnaires. Results: After follow-up, a significant improvement in the average total DFI score was observed, especially for domains of fatigue/exhaustion, emotional distress and impact of helping in child treatment. Lower baseline SCORAD, greater improvement of SCORAD over follow-up, better CDLQI/IDQOL at baseline, greater improvement in CDLQI/IDQOL over follow-up, not having asthma and having older child with AD were associated with better parental quality of life after 1 year of follow-up. Parental higher education level, shorter AD duration, better baseline SCORAD and greater improvement in CDLQI/IDQOL over follow-up were associated with greater improvement in parental life quality over 1 year of follow-up. Conclusion: Contributors to parental quality of life after 1 year included clinical features of AD and child's comorbidity (asthma), but also the perception of child's quality of life and its improvement. © 2019 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology

Background Previous studies suggest that alopecia areata (AA) may significantly affect patient quality of life (QoL). There are no studies that assess QoL in Serbian AA patients. Objectives This study aims to assess the impact of AA on patients' QoL in comparison to patients affected by other skin diseases and to determine the impact of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of AA patients on QoL. Methods A hospital-based cross-sectional study of 60 patients with AA was conducted at the Clinic of Dermatovenereology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade between April 2012 and June 2013. The severity of hair loss was assessed using the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT). Patients' self-assessment of QoL was measured by three self-administered questionnaires: The Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and The Skindex-29. Results Sixty AA patients (16 males and 44 females) with mean age of 37.35 ± 14.26 years completed the questionnaires. We confirmed that QoL of our AA patients was impaired. Compared with patients suffering from psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and onychomycosis AA patients presented significantly better QoL. Severity of disease (SALT) correlated only with personal relationship - dimension of DLQI (ρ = 0.29, P < 0.05) and social functioning - dimension of Skindex (ρ = 0.26, P < 0.05). No correlation was observed between severity of the disease and SF-36 subscales. AA patients with depression had significantly worse QoL in daily activities, leisure, work or school and personal relationships - DLQI dimensions, and emotions and social functioning - Skindex subscales. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that AA influences QoL, but to a lesser degree than observed for psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and onychomycosis. © 2015 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.