Association of Inadequately Controlled Disease and
Disease Severity With Patient-Reported Disease Burden
in Adults With Atopic Dermatitis

At Arnold Consultancy & Technology, we help transform research insights into practical knowledge that improves care. This study, published in JAMA Dermatology, focused on how disease severity and treatment control affect the daily lives of adults with atopic dermatitis (AD).

Study Design and Objectives

The study analyzed patient-reported outcomes from six U.S. academic medical centers. Its primary objectives were to:

• Assess differences in disease burden between mild and moderate/severe atopic dermatitis
• Evaluate how controlled vs. inadequately controlled disease influences patient experiences
• Examine multiple domains including itch, pain, sleep, mental health, and health-related quality of life

Key Findings

The results highlighted the very real, day-to-day challenges for patients:

• Moderate/severe AD led to more frequent itching, higher pain levels, and more disturbed sleep compared to mild AD.
• Inadequately controlled AD meant patients spent nearly twice as many days with itch and had longer sleep disturbances.
• Mental health was strongly affected: half of patients with moderate/severe AD reported symptoms of anxiety or depression.
• Overall quality of life was significantly lower when AD was inadequately controlled.

Why It Matters

This study shows that atopic dermatitis isn’t just a skin condition — it affects sleep, mental health, and daily activities. Even patients who considered their disease “controlled” reported a substantial burden, underscoring the need for:

• More effective treatment options
• Better tools to capture the patient perspective in both clinical care and research

To read the full study, click here.