Gender differences in self-assessed health-related quality of life in children with atopic dermatitis

Background: Atopic dermatitis has a significant impact on quality of life of children and families. Objective: It is important to assess gender differences in health-related quality of life in children with atopic dermatitis in order to effectively use health-related quality of life results. Methods: Children 5- to 16-years of age with atopic dermatitis from Italy, Singapore, Czech Republic, and Ukraine were divided into two groups (boys and girls). Each child in the group of boys was matched to a corresponding child in the group of girls from the same country whose age and scoring atopic dermatitis value were almost identical. Self-assessed health-related quality of life was measured by the Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index. Results: The difference in overall Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index between boys and girls was not significant (P=0.33). Girls with atopic dermatitis assessed Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index item on embarrassment significantly higher (0.78±0.93 for boys and 1.14±0.93 for girls, p<0.05). Lowest scored items were the same and overall Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index results significantly correlated with scoring atopic dermatitis values in both groups. Two separate Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index items in boys and five items in girls significantly correlated with atopic dermatitis severity. The Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index item on affected sleep significantly correlated with the age of boys (r=0.38, P=0.02) and another Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index item on school work/holiday with the age of girls (r=0.59, p<0.01). Conclusion: Despite that the authors did not find differences in overall health-related quality of life results, girls were more embarrassed, self-conscious, upset, and sad because of atopic dermatitis. The authors' results may influence the educational part of consultations of children with atopic dermatitis.