Quality of life and disease severity in dermatitis patients with fragrance allergy ‐ a cross‐sectional European questionnaire study

Background

Fragrance contact allergy is common, but few studies on quality of life (QoL) in affected patients exist. Recently, the disease‐specific Fragrance Quality of Life Index (FQLI) was developed.

Objectives

To characterize QoL in European dermatitis patients with fragrance contact allergy at time of diagnosis.

Methods

Cross‐sectional study, inviting 2011 Danish, British, Spanish and German adult consecutive dermatitis patients to complete a questionnaire on self‐reported disease severity, the Dermatology Quality of Life Index (DLQI), and the FQLI immediately prior to being patch tested.

Results

1758 patients responded and 259 (14.7%, country range 11.7‐18.5%) were fragrance positive. Among these, total (SD) DLQI score was 6.2 (5.6) and total (SD) FQLI score was 60 (25), with both estimates being comparable to fragrance negative patients. Adjusting total FQLI score for age, sex and self‐rated disease severity revealed a higher (i.e. worse) score in fragrance positive patients (3.6‐point increase, 95% CI: 0.30 to 6.8 points, P=0.03). Specifically, contact allergy to oxidized linalool was associated with greater impairment in QoL.

Conclusions

QoL in patients with fragrance contact allergy is impaired at a level comparable to other patch tested dermatitis patients, at time of diagnosis across several European countries.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2NAaS6l