title: Sick Leave and Factors Influencing Sick Leave in Adult Patients with Atopic Dermatitis: A Cross-Sectional Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about the prevalence of sick leave due to atopic dermatitis (AD). The current literature on factors influencing sick leave is mostly derived from other chronic inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of sick leave due to AD and to identify influencing factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was carried out in adult patients with AD.
  
  
  METHODS
  sick leave during the two-week and one-year periods, socio-demographic characteristics, disease severity, quality of life and socio-occupational factors. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine influencing factors on sick leave over the two-week period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 253 patients were included; 12% of the patients had to take sick leave in the last two weeks due to AD and 42% in the past year. A higher level of symptom interference (OR 1.26; 95% CI 1.13-1.40) or perfectionism/diligence (OR 0.90; 95% CI 0.83-0.96) may respectively increase or decrease the number of sick leave days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sick leave in patients with AD is a common problem and symptom interference and perfectionism/diligence appeared to influence it. Novel approaches are needed to deal with symptoms at work or school to reduce the amount of sick leave due to AD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology/Allergology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584CX Utrecht, The Netherlands. h.vanosmedendorp@umcutrecht.nl.
authors.forename: Harmieke
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van Os-Medendorp
authors.affiliation: Student Clinical Health Sciences, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584CX Utrecht, The Netherlands. sm_noor@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Appelman-Noordermeer
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology/Allergology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bruijnzeel-Koomen
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology/Allergology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marjolein
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Bruin-Weller
keywords: atopic dermatitis; influencing factors; quality of life; severity; sick leave; socio-occupational factors