OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate productivity loss and indirect cost, related to Atopic Dermatitis (AD) in Greece.

METHODS: In this cross-sectional observational study, targeting adult members of the patients’ association “EPIDERMIA”, diagnosed with AD, work productivity loss was assessed through a Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaire. The annual indirect cost was the sum of absenteeism and presenteeism costs, calculated from weekly lost work hours and reduced productivity using mean hourly earnings from GDP per capita. Univariate and multivariate linear regression models were fitted to assess the effect of patient’s characteristics to the logarithm of overall work impairment.

RESULTS: Of 150 participants the median age was 37.6 years, 55.3% were female and 69% were employed at the time of the research. The median (Q1-Q3) working hours were 40 (34.0 –42.0), with no working hours missed due to AD in the prior week (absenteeism). However, the median (Q1-Q3) impairment while working due to AD was 20% (10% – 40%) of their actual working time (presenteeism). The median (Q1-Q3) overall work impairment (work productivity loss) due to AD was 28% (10% – 43%) of the participants’ total work time. Multivariate analysis indicated that overall work impairment escalates with AD severity. Age of diagnosis, the presence of asthma, and higher AD severity levels were associated with the extent of overall work impairment. The mean annual indirect cost per patient was 4,471 € (95% CI: 3,677 € to 5,425 €), mainly driven by presenteeism cost and increasing with AD severity (p=0.049).

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides useful information regarding the impact of AD on productivity as well as the indirect cost of AD in Greece, which might be useful when evaluating novel AD treatments.