OBJECTIVES：

Atopic Dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic relapsing allergic disease which may last from several months to years. Studies from Western countries have shown that AD symptoms such as pruritus significantly affects work performance and daily activities, but no such studies have been previously conducted in Taiwan. This study aims to evaluate the effect of AD on work productivity and activity impairment in Taiwanese adults.

METHODS：

A nation-wide, in-person survey of 191 adult patients diagnosed with AD visiting National Taiwan University Hospital branches was conducted over a period of eight months. Effect on work productivity and activity impairment was assessed using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire – Atopic Dermatitis (WPAI-AD). Descriptive statistics was used to characterize the number and proportions of patients with AD and associated outcomes.

RESULTS：

Patients had a mean age of 34.4 years (STD: 12.5). A larger proportion of respondents were male (50.3%), single (67.0%), and college-educated (63.9%), and employed (70%) at time of study. Among employed patients, a 4.6% absenteeism rate resulted in a weekly cost of about NTD$570 per person and reduced working efficiency of 41.3% resulted in a weekly cost of about NTD$5,156 per person. (1USD≈30NTD)

Overall productivity loss was 43.41% resulting in a weekly productivity cost of NT$5,415 per person. Regardless of employment status, respondents had 41.1% of activity impairment due to discomfort caused by AD.

CONCLUSIONS：

AD correlates with reduced work productivity, activity impairment, and associated economic losses. This study is the first study to look at the impact of AD on patient work and daily life in Taiwan. Further research is necessary to understand the true economic burden of AD.