Sleep disturbances and female gender predict a poor quality of life in Iraqi contact dermatitis patients: A cross-sectional study

• Main Authors: Ahmed Al-Imam (Author), Mohammed H Al-Baghdadi (Author), Sama T Abdullah (Author), Sama H Al-Jawhar (Author), Michal Michalak (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications, 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 2352-2410; 2352-2429; 10.4103/jdds.jdds_35_23
• Keywords: dermatology life quality index; middle east; occupational dermatoses; Dermatology; RL1-803
• Source: Journal of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, Vol 27, Iss 2, Pp 66-70 (2023)

Background: Contact dermatitis is a form of eczema triggered by an allergen or an irritant substance. Its impact on the quality of life (QoL) is unknown among Iraqi patients. Purpose: We aim to survey the QoL among Iraqi contact dermatitis patients and infer the risk factors influencing it. Methods: The current study is cross-sectional among patients admitted to Baghdad Medical City. We used the dermatology life quality index to assess the QoL and collected parameters related to socio-demographics and other eczema-related factors. Results: A hundred patients (males = 43%; females = 57%) were in the third decade of life (total = 34 ± 0.97; males = 33 ± 1.5; females = 34 ± 1.3). The multivariable logistic regression had good statistical accuracy and satisfied the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test (Nagelkerke's R2 = 0.13, statistical accuracy = 67%, P = 0.47). Three factors associated with an impaired QoL, including sleep disturbances (odds ratio [OR] =4.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.3, 18], P = 0.021), female gender (OR = 2.6, 95% CI [1.1, 6.4], P = 0.036), and family size (≤4 members) (OR = 3.2, 95% CI [0.99, 10], P = 0.053). Females with contact dermatitis who experience sleep disturbances and live in small households are more likely to suffer from severely impaired QoL. Conclusion: The QoL among Iraqi contact dermatitis patients is influenced by sleep disturbances, female gender, and family size.