title: Self-reported skin morbidities and health-related quality of life: a population-based nested case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Impaired dermatological health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been observed in hospital-based studies, but little is known on a population-based level.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate self-reported dermatological HRQoL in the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hidradenitis suppurativa, psoriasis, pimples, hand rash or atopic eczema were identified using questionnaires in a 15,177 person population sample. A nested case-control study of 180 cases and 259 controls was made using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Skindex-29 and EQ-5D.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cases had higher scores in DLQI and Skindex-29 and a lower score in EQ-5D, suggesting lower HRQoL. Adjusting for age and sex, the differences in Skindex-29 and DLQI were significant (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Persons with self-reported skin morbidity had lower HRQoL than the general population. The impairment is not as significant as in studies of hospital-based cases, but considering the high prevalence of skin diseases it may still represent a significant burden of disease on society in aggregate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Roskilde Hospital, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Roskilde, Denmark.
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Vinding
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Knudsen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ellervik
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Olesen
authors.forename: G B E
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Jemec
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark; D004485:Eczema / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult