Validation of patient‐reported global severity of atopic dermatitis in adults

Abstract

Background Atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with a heterogeneous presentation and clinical course. There is a lack of simple and validated severity assessments that are feasible for clinical practice and epidemiological research. Objectives We sought to validate patient‐reported global AD severity in adults. Methods We performed a prospective dermatology practice‐based study using questionnaires and evaluation by a dermatologist (n = 265). Results At baseline and follow‐up, patient‐reported global AD severity significantly correlated with oSCORAD (Spearman ρ = 0.56 and 0.49), SCORAD (0.64 and 0.56), EASI (0.56 and 0.50), BSA (0.52 and 0.45), NRS‐itch (0.60 and 0.53), POEM (0.50 and 0.48), and DLQI (0.50 and 0.49) (P < .0001 for all). Patient‐reported moderate and severe AD vs mild AD were associated with significantly higher oSCORAD, SCORAD, EASI, BSA, NRS‐itch, POEM, and DLQI (P < .0001 for all). There was moderate concordance between patient‐reported AD severity (mild, moderate, and severe) and previously developed severity strata for oSCORAD (κ = 0.39), SCORAD (κ = 0.47), EASI (κ = 0.37), NRS‐itch (κ = 0.49), POEM (κ = 0.37), and DLQI (κ = 0.40). Among patients with severe disease at baseline, those who reported mild or moderate disease on follow‐up had significantly greater absolute reductions of oSCORAD (−23.4/−9.7/−1.8), SCORAD (−33.0/−13.2/−2.3), EASI (−17.1/−9.8/−3.2), BSA (−46%/−15%/−4%), NRS‐itch (−5/−2/0), POEM (−5/−2/0), and DLQI (−8/−6/−1) than those who continued to report severe disease (Kruskal‐Wallis, P ≤ .0003 for all). Conclusions Patient‐reported AD severity appears to be sufficiently valid for assessing AD severity in the clinical and epidemiological setting.