title: Willingness to pay and quality of life in patients with atopic dermatitis.
abstract: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a frequent and burdensome disease. The objectives of this study were (1) to assess the willingness to pay (WTP) and quality of life (Qol) in AD patients and (2) to compare the results with data on other chronic skin diseases. To collect data, a non-interventional, cross-sectional nationwide postal survey on adult patients with clinically diagnosed AD was performed; socio-demographic data, clinical features/symptoms, WTP and QoL were recorded. WTP was assessed in three different approaches, including relative and absolute figures. Data from n = 384 AD patients (mean age 42.0, range 18-92, 69.8 % female) were analyzed. WTP for complete healing was on median <euro>1,000 (average <euro>11,884) and exceeded WTP in rosacea (median <euro>500) but not in vitiligo (median <euro>3,000). Mean Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) was 8.5 (vitiligo 7.0; psoriasis 6.7; rosacea 4.3) and correlated with pruritus, xerosis and disturbed sleep. WTP and DLQI correlated only marginally (r s = 0.134, p = 0.01). In conclusion, AD patients show high WTP and markedly reduced QoL compared to other chronic skin diseases.
authors: IVDP-Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing, University Medical Center Hamburg, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany, f.beikert@uke.de.
authors: F C
authors: FC
authors: Beikert
authors: A K
authors: AK
authors: Langenbruch
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Radtke
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Kornek
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Purwins
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Augustin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D017048:Health Care Costs; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D005102:Health Expenditures; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult