Effect of Atopic Dermatitis on Quality of Life and Healthcare Resource Utilization in Saudi Arabia

The prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD), spanning across from childhood through adolescence is increasing in the Middle East region. Poor Quality of Life (QoL), excessive healthcare expenditure, loss of school and workdays are considered to be the significant burden of AD. Although, QoL data is available for children affected by AD in Saudi Arabia, there is limited data for adolescents and adults. Moreover, data on healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) in Saudi Arabia is lacking. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the association between AD severity and AD-related QoL and HCRU in adolescents and adults in Saudi Arabia. It also aimed to identify the gaps in literature on AD in the above two patient populations in Saudi Arabia and provide recommendations for better management of QoL and HCRU- related issues. Extensive literature search was carried out through various search engines, such as PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using different keywords. This review highlighted the lack of literature from Saudi Arabia with respect to the effect of AD on QoL and HCRU in adult and adolescent populations. The gaps in data regarding patient perception, physician knowledge, family and caregiver burden, and QoL for better AD management related HRQoL and HCRU in Saudi Arabia were also identified and recommendations to bridge these gaps were provided.