THE PSYCHOLOGICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF ATOPIC DERMATITIS IN BRAZIL

Abstract

This article sought to evaluate the psychological, social and economic impacts of AD in Brazil. A systematic review of the literature was carried out, with articles found on the platforms “PubMed”, “Scielo” and “Lilacs”, using the descriptors “atopic dermatitis”, “quality of life” and “Brazil”. Articles published in Brazilian English and Portuguese were included. Articles that address the topic in other countries were excluded, as were those whose focus was only on the pathophysiology and treatment of the disease. 11 articles were selected. The selected studies analyzed the psychological, social and economic impact of AD through questionnaires, the most used being the Dermatitis Family Impact Questionnaire (DFI), Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). The questionnaires evaluated demonstrated that AD negatively impacts sleep, leisure, relationships, among other factors. In the analysis of economic aspects, one of the cross-sectional studies revealed that this cost for patients corresponds to 7.5% of their salaries. Finally, it is understood that AD is a disease that significantly impacts the psychological, social and economic spheres of individuals and their families and that despite being a topic of great importance, it can still be considered neglected.