Serum zinc levels and their impact on quality of life of patients with atopic dermatitis
Keywords:
Atopic dermatitis, DLQI, pruritus, quality of life, serum zinc levelsAbstract
Background Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, recurrent disease characterized by pruritus and eczematous lesions. Several studies have shown that atopic dermatitis severely affects the quality of life and atopic dermatitis patients have low serum zinc levels.  Objective This study aimed to evaluate the impact of atopic dermatitis on the quality of life and quantify the relationship between serum zinc levels and patients’ well-being.  Methods Atopic dermatitis was diagnosed according to the Hanifin and Rajka criteria of 1980, and the severity was assessed using the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) scale. The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) was used to evaluate the quality of life in patients. The itch severity was measured using the 5-D itch scale.  Results 87 patients and 87 controls participated in our study. The “itching†component had the highest DLQI score. A statistical correlation was observed between the SCORAD score and the DLQI score. In the patient group, the serum zinc levels were lower than that in the control group. Additionally, negative correlations between the SCORAD scores, the DLQI scores, and the 5-D scores against serum zinc levels were observed.  Conclusion Atopic dermatitis is associated with low serum zinc levels; both have a major impact on patients’ quality of life. ÂReferences
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