Mental health disorders more prevalent amongst adults with inflammatory skin conditions

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1. Anxiety and depression were more prevalent among individuals with eczema or psoriasis, and those with these inflammatory conditions were more likely to report poor sleep. 

Evidence Rating Level: 2 (Good)

Anxiety and depression are known to be more prevalent among those with inflammatory skin diseases, such as eczema and psoriasis. In this population-based match cohort study, researchers aimed to establish whether known risk factors for mental illness, such as poor sleep quality, disproportionately impact people with eczema or psoriasis. Data was gathered from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink on adults registered with a primary care practice between 1997 and 2019. Individuals with eczema or psoriasis were matched by age, sex, and clinical practice with up to 5 individuals without these skin conditions. 1,032,782 participants were in the eczema group, compared to 4,990,125 in the matched control group. 336,884 participants were in the psoriasis group, compared to 1,834,330 in the matched control group. After adjusting for several confounding variables, eczema and psoriasis were associated with increased anxiety (adjusted HR [95% CI]: eczema 1.14 [1.13–1.16], psoriasis 1.17 [1.15–1.19])  and depression (eczema 1.11 [1.1–1.12], psoriasis 1.21 [1.19–1.22]). For those with eczema, 11% of the depression and 13% of the anxiety cohort reported poor sleep, compared to 5.9% and 6.8% of matched controls. The researchers of this study suggest that improving sleep quality may be helpful for reducing the mental illness burden among those with inflammatory skin conditions. Future research should examine whether improved sleep hygiene reduces the prevalence of anxiety and depression among those with inflammatory skin conditions.  

Click to read the study in BMC Medicine

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