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- Jonsson, Tomas, et al.
(author)
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Atopic dermatitis and stress: A functional magnetic resonance imaging study of female patients with atopic dermatitis using an arithmetic task
- 2024
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In: JEADV CLINICAL PRACTICE. - : WILEY. - 2768-6566. ; 3:2, s. 580-590
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BackgroundAtopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by eczematous lesions, dry skin and persistent itch. AD may worsen due to psychological stress. However, little is known about the neural correlates that mediate the interaction between psychological stress and AD.ObjectivesTo identify the possible difference in brain activation during arithmetic-task induced stress in patients with AD versus healthy controls (HC) as well as the link between the brain response and clinical and psychodemographic parameters.MethodsA cohort of 29 AD female patients and 23 matched HC were recruited to investigate the potential difference in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) response to a block-designed arithmetic paradigm. Both the HC and AD subjects were evaluated regarding their psychological traits, and for the AD subjects also their clinical characteristics, including stress indicators such as heart rate and salivary cortisol. We employed both univariate and multivariate statistical methods to analyse the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) fMRI response of the subjects to the block-designed arithmetic paradigm.Results(1) Compared with HC subjects, the AD patients depict less deactivation in the default mode network including right angular gyrus, bilateral temporal pole and temporal lobe in response to the arithmetic task. (2) The BOLD fMRI response amplitude in the right postcentral gyrus and inferior parietal lobule is positively correlated with the stress susceptibility scores in the AD subjects, whereas the trend was the opposite of this for the HC subjects. (3) The activation in the postcentral gyrus also shows a correlation with the degree of itch in the AD patients.ConclusionsThe BOLD fMRI measurements based on an arithmetic paradigm can provide useful insight into altered brain processing and its association with psychological traits and clinical characteristics in subjects with AD. Psychological stress exacerbates brain activities for the AD subjects in the motor, somatosensory association cortex, perception and sensory integration processing. The postcentral gyrus might be of particular interest for itch and stress.
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- Ortsäter, Gustaf, et al.
(author)
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Societal economic burden and determinants of costs for atopic dermatitis
- 2022
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In: JEADV Clinical Practice. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 2768-6566. ; 1:4, s. 326-343
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease while the economic burden of AD by severity is not adequately understood.Objective: To estimate the societal economic burden and to identify cost determinants of AD.Methods: In this population-based, controlled cohort study in Sweden, patients with AD were identified through diagnosis codes in primary or secondary care or by dispensed medications using administrative healthcare registers. A reference cohort without AD was randomly selected from the general population. Healthcare costs (primary/secondary care visits and dispensed medication) and indirect costs (care for sick children and long-term sick leave for adults) were calculated annually. AD patients were stratified by age (paediatric [age < 12], adolescent [12 ≤ age < 18] or adult [age ≥ 18]), and severity (mild-to-moderate [M2M] or severe AD) and matched to the reference cohort.Results: Compared with controls, the annual mean per-patient direct healthcare costs in the first year following diagnosis were €941 and €1259 higher in paediatric patients with M2M and severe AD, respectively. In the first year following diagnosis, the mean indirect cost for care of sick children was €69 and €78 higher per patient in M2M and severe AD, respectively. In adolescents with M2M and severe AD, direct healthcare costs were €816 and €1260 higher, respectively. In adults, healthcare costs were €1583 and €2963 higher in patients with M2M and severe AD, respectively and indirect costs were €148 and €263 higher compared with controls. Management of comorbid medical conditions was an important driver of incremental healthcare costs. Total incremental societal economic burden for AD was €351 and €96 million higher in patients with M2M and severe AD, respectively, compared to controls.Conclusion: AD is associated with a significant societal economic burden primarily driven by the cost burden of M2M AD due to the high prevalence of this population. Regardless of severity level, management of non-AD comorbidities is a major driver of total costs.
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- Pham, James P., et al.
(author)
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Full-body skin examination in screening for cutaneous malignancy: A focus on concealed sites and the practices of international dermatologists
- 2024
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In: JEADV CLINICAL PRACTICE. - 2768-6566. ; 3:4, s. 1132-1139
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BackgroundFull-body skin examination (FSE) is fundamental to the diagnosis of cutaneous malignancy but may not always include concealed site examination (CSE).ObjectivesTo determine the approach of international dermatologists to CSE during FSE and examine influencing factors, barriers and attitudes toward CSE.MethodsMembers of the International Dermoscopy Society were surveyed using an online 12-question survey disseminated via email.ResultsThere were 706 completed responses among 1249 unique clicks to the survey, representing a completion rate of 56.5%. Fifty-four percent of respondents reported always examining the breasts, while 52.8%, 18.8%, and 11.8% always examined the scalp, oral, and anogenital mucosa, respectively. The most frequent reason for examining concealed sites was patient concern, whilst common reasons for not examining concealed sites included low incidence of pathology and concern regarding allegations of sexual misconduct.ConclusionsOur findings allude to the need for international consensus guidelines regarding the conduct and inclusion of concealed or sensitive sites in routine FSE. This is essential to define clinician responsibilities, inform patient expectations of care, and thereby mitigate potential medicolegal repercussions.
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- Rosendahl, Karolina, et al.
(author)
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Characteristics of women seeking care at a vulvar clinic : a study of 600 patients during a 17‐year period
- 2022
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In: JEADV Clinical Practice. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 2768-6566. ; 2:1, s. 73-79
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Symptoms from the vulva and vagina affect about one-third of all women and have a negative influence both on sexual health and psychosocial well-being. Research regarding vulvar diseases is sparse and there is a need for a better understanding of women seeking care for vulvar diseases.Objectives: The objectives of this descriptive study were to investigate symptoms, signs, and background characteristics of women attending our multidisciplinary vulvar clinic at the University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden between 2005 and 2021.Methods: We conducted a prospective study by using a vulvar-specific questionnaire and reviewed the medical records to collect supplementary data.Results: A total of 600 women participated. The most common symptom among all participants was dyspareunia (67.6%). Pain diagnoses dominated in the younger population while inflammatory diseases were most common among patients 40 years of age or more. We found a significant association between dyspareunia and negative experiences of gynaecological examination (p < 0.001) as well as between pruritus and not having a regular contact with a psychologist (p < 0.05).Conclusions: Women seeking care at our vulvar clinic exhibit a complicated and complex set of symptoms intertwined with many aspects of life. Increasing awareness among healthcare professionals, an experienced team at the clinic, and a multidisciplinary approach regarding the symptoms and needs of women with vulvar conditions are important to optimise care and treatment. Clinicians must be aware that vulvar diseases may have different symptomatology due to age. It is also important to highlight that the symptomatology presented by patients attending for vulvar diseases, has changed during the past decade.
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- Thyssen, Jacob P., et al.
(author)
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Comorbidity burden in adult atopic dermatitis : a population-based study
- 2024
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In: JEADV Clinical Practice. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 2768-6566. ; 3:1, s. 128-141
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that has been shown to be associated with allergic comorbidities. However, studies examining comorbidities in patients with AD are incomplete, which may contribute to suboptimal care.Objectives: The objective was to compare the risk of developing different allergic and nonallergic comorbidities among adult patients with AD to that of a matched reference cohort in Sweden.Methods: This was a nationwide population-based cohort study using longitudinal data from primary and specialist care registers. AD patients were identified by confirmed diagnosis in primary or specialist care. A non-AD reference cohort was randomly drawn from the general population and matched 1:1 with the AD patients on age, gender, and geographical region. The risk of developing the following conditions was evaluated: asthma, food hypersensitivity, allergic rhinitis, neurological disorders, psychiatric disorders, infections, immunological & inflammatory disorders, type 1 diabetes (T1D), type 2 diabetes (T2D), endocrine & metabolic disorders, skeletal disorders, ocular disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and malignancies.Results: This study included 107,774 AD patients [mild-to-moderate (n = 92,413) and severe (n = 15,361)] and an equally-sized reference cohort. AD patients displayed a higher risk of developing comorbid conditions for all investigated categories, except for T1D, compared with the reference cohort. The highest risk compared with the reference cohort was observed for allergic comorbidities followed by immunological & inflammatory disorders (hazard ratio: 2.15) and infections (hazard ratio: 2.01). Patients with AD also had higher risk of developing multiple comorbidities (2 or more). The risk of comorbidity onset increased alongside AD severity and patients with active AD were associated with increased risk of comorbidity onset compared with patients in remission.Conclusions: AD patients are at an increased risk of developing many comorbidities that extend beyond allergic conditions. This study highlights the need for interdisciplinary follow-up of comorbidities in the management of AD patients to reduce overall patient burden.
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- Vingeliene, Snieguole, 1985-, et al.
(author)
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Atopic dermatitis, systemic inflammation and subsequent dementia risk
- 2023
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In: JEADV Clinical Practice. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 2768-6566. ; 2:4, s. 839-848
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease and inflammation has been implicated in development of other chronic diseases, but few studies have examined the relationship with dementia.Objectives: This study examines associations of atopic dermatitis (AD) and systemic inflammation in adolescence measured using erythrocyte sedimenta-tion rate (ESR), as well as AD diagnosed in adulthood, with dementia risk.Methods: We used three Swedish register‐based cohorts. Cohort I (N= 795,680) comprised men, born in 1951–1968, who participated in themilitary conscription examinations with physician‐assessed AD and ESR; Cohort II (N= 1,757,600) included men and women, born in 1951–1968; and Cohort III (N= 3,988,783) included all individuals in Sweden, born in 1930–1968. We used Cox regression, estimating hazard ratios (HR), with thefollow‐up from 50 years of age to dementia diagnosis, date of emigration, death, or 31 December 2018, which ever occurred first. Further, we used asibling comparison design to adjust for unmeasured confounders shared among siblings.Results: Cohort I: 1466 dementia events were accrued during follow‐up of 7.8 years, with a crude rate of 21.6 [95% confidence interval (CI): 20.6, 22.8] per 100,000 person‐years. Cohort II: 3549 dementia events were accrued duringfollow‐up of 7.4 years, with a crude rate of 23.7 (95% CI: 22.9, 24.5) per 100,000 person‐years. Cohort III: 120,303 dementia events were accrued during follow‐up of 23.7 years, with a crude rate of 180.3 (95% CI: 179.3, 181.3) per 100,000 person‐years. In multivariable analysis using Cohort I, there was no association between AD and dementia [HR 0.68 (95% CI 0.32, 1.43)], norwith moderate [HR 0.71 (95% CI: 0.46, 1.10)] or high [HR 1.23 (95% CI: 0.87, 1.75)] ESR. AD was not associated with dementia risk in Cohort II [HR 1.28(0.97, 1.71)] or Cohort III [HR 1.01 (0.92, 1.11)].Conclusions: AD was not associated with dementia risk, neither was systemic inflammation measured by ESR in adolescence.
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