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G B E Jemec

Publications and source records attributed to G B E Jemec.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Life quality assessment among patients with atopic eczema.

BACKGROUND: Quantification of quality of life (QoL) related to disease severity is important in patients with atopic eczema (AE), because the assessment provides additional information to the traditional objective clinical scoring systems. OBJECTIVES: To measure health-related QoL (HRQoL) in patients with AE; to analyse discriminant, divergent and convergent validity by examining the association between various QoL methods; and to examine the association between disease severity assessed by an objective Severity Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) and QoL. METHODS: HRQoL was assessed at two visits at a 6-monthly interval in 101 patients with AE and 30 controls with one dermatology-specific questionnaire [Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) or Children's DLQI (CDLQI)], one generic instrument (SF-36) and three visual analogue scales (VASs) of severity and pruritus. Objective SCORAD was used to measure disease severity. RESULTS: Patients with AE had significantly lower QoL than healthy controls and the general population. DLQI /CDLQI, pruritus, and patient and investigator overall assessment of eczema severity were significantly (P < 0.0001) and positively correlated with SCORAD, while the generic questionnaire showed only poor correlation. A gender difference was found for the mental component score of SF-36 (P = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: AE has an impact on HRQoL. Patients' mental health, social functioning and role emotional functioning seem to be more affected than physical functioning. A simple VAS score of patients' assessment of disease severity showed the highest and most significant correlations with most of the HRQoL methods used. There is evidence to support the ability of patients with AE to make an accurate determination of their disease severity and QoL.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

The handicap caused by atopic dermatitis--sick leave and job avoidance.

BACKGROUND: The handicap caused by skin diseases is insufficiently described in comparison to other types of diseases (e.g. rheumatological diseases). Estimates of disease handicap provide important data for overall disease assessment, resource planning and background data for planning possible preventive intervention studies. OBJECTIVE: Primarily to describe the degree of handicap caused by atopic dermatitis (AD) in relation to the choice of education and occupation. Secondarily to describe the frequency of social pensions awarded due to AD in Denmark and the development of pensions awarded over time. METHODS: A descriptive study based on questionnaires gathered from members of the Danish Association of Atopic Eczema. Information was obtained on age, disease duration, severity, localization of eczema and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Additional data about sick days due to eczema and patients' choice of education or employment were obtained from the Danish Ministry of Social Affairs. RESULTS: Study population 112 (24 males and 88 females), aged 15 years and older, self-assessed morbidity was mild (1/3), moderate (1/2) or severe (approximately 1/5). Mean DLQI score was 9.67. Mean loss of working days due to AD was 5.8 days/6 months (95% CI: 0.36-11.30). The mean total loss of working days due to eczema alone was 148% of the national average, and 38% of the respondents had abstained from a specific education or a job due to AD. Since 1970, the average number of pension due to AD awarded in Denmark has grown from 4.2 per year for 1970-1976 to 18.0 per year for 1999-2002. CONCLUSION: Even mild to moderate AD causes handicap as seen from increased sick leave and the number of awarded early retirement pensions. There are therefore both individual as well as societal consequences of AD.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Parent gender and assessment of infant life quality.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective was to examine the influence of parents' gender on the assessment of quality of life among infants with atopic dermatitis. The secondary objective was to examine the psychological factors affecting the assessment. METHODS: Questionnaires were completed by 28 couples, as a basis for gender comparison. Data were gathered on disease severity, confidence of treatment, Major Depression Index (MDI), Spielberger Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Infants' Dermatitis Quality of Life Index (IDQOL). RESULTS: The mothers' scores were higher than those of fathers for all assessments, although differences were not statistically significant. Significant correlations were found between MDI and severity assessment for mothers only and between MDI and STAI for both genders. Multiple linear regression analysis suggested gender differences in the proposed model, where only depression was appearing statistically significant (P = 0.029). CONCLUSION: Our data presented suggest that no significant gender-dependent differences occur in parents' overall severity assessment of the eczema in their children, but the influence of the different factors studied is not equal in the two sexes. Future instruments aimed at surrogate assessment of disease severity in children by their parents should take this into account and provide explicit testing of possible gender differences.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Mechanical properties of the skin: a comparison between two suction cup methods.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The objective measure of mechanical properties of the skin is relevant to the clinician as well as to the researcher concerned with skin physiology. The lack of standardization among methods used to obtain visco-elastic data from the skin is however, apparent and represents an obstacle to comparison of the results derived from the various studies concerning the subject. METHODS: The mechanical properties of the ventral forearm were studied in 35 healthy volunteers. The Dermaflex and the DermaLab (Both Cortex Technology, Hadsund, Denmark) were compared. The results were analyzed with descriptive statistics and correlations using non-parametric methods. Measurement accuracy was assessed using coefficient of variation. Sub analysis was made in groups according to gender and age. RESULTS: The overall correlations between the two methods were moderate (r = 0.383-0.437). A greater coefficient of variation was found in the DermaLab machine. Significant differences were found between all values of both methods when comparing the mechanical properties of the skin in 30-39 years olds versus the group of 40-58 years olds. No differences were found between the genders. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that both methods are useful in the study of the mechanical aspects of the skin, especially for detecting age-related changes. The Dermaflex seems to produce more accurate for data. This is thought to be due to the conceptual design differences between the two methods. The methods measure related but not identical values of the mechanical properties of the skin, as reflected by the limited positive correlation between them.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Topical therapy for peristomal pyoderma gangrenosum.

BACKGROUND: Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an uncommon condition. Literature on the management of peristomal PG (PPG) is sparse. In the absence of randomized controlled trials the reporting of case series is potentially helpful to the management of this uncommon disease. OBJECTIVE: In this study we report our experience with topical corticosteroid therapy for 14 consecutive cases of PPG. METHODS: A clinical diagnosis PPG was made by a trained dermatologist using the appropriate investigations where necessary. RESULTS: The majority of the cases presented were managed with simple topical corticosteroids, occasionally in combination with a change of dressing. In 8/14 (57%) cases ulcer resolution was achieved within 3 months with topical treatment alone or topical treatment plus a change of dressing to a silicone-based product applied directly to the wound under the normal base plate of the stoma bag. CONCLUSION: Our experience suggests that a significant proportion of PPG can be managed by topical treatment alone. The simple topical treatment allows the patient to continue use of stoma care products while minimizing the potential for side effects.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Time spent on treatment of atopic dermatitis: a new method of measuring pediatric morbidity?

Our purpose was to examine if the time spent on treatment (TSOT) is a relevant surrogate measure of pediatric disease severity. The TSOT (min/day) was studied in a group of 42 children with atopic dermatitis (AD) (16 girls and 26 boys; mean age 7.07 years). The TSOT included time spent on all types of topical treatment, on extra cleaning, and on visits to doctors. Objective Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) assessment was performed at each visit. A significant correlation was found between TSOT and SCORAD scores for all visits (p < 0.0001). There was no correlation between TSOT and age or sex or between TSOT/SCORAD and age (p < 0.08). For the 65 visits (by 42 children), TSOT/SCORAD ranged from 0.08 min/point to 28.67 min/point. Older children (10-15 years of age) had a lower TSOT/SCORAD ratio compared to younger children (1-5 years of age). Our data suggest that TSOT in itself may be a useful measure of morbidity among pediatric AD patients. It is speculated that patients with a very high TSOT/SCORAD rate or a very low rate have coping problems and would therefore be suitable candidates for intensified efforts in programs such as "eczema schools."

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Study of peristomal skin disorders in patients with permanent stomas.

The aim of this article was to investigate the frequency, severity and diversity of peristomal skin disorders among individuals with a permanent stoma in a community population. All individuals with a permanent stoma (n=630) in a Danish community population were invited to participate in a cross-sectional study. A total of 202 individuals (101 men; 101 women) agreed to participate. Data were collected through questionnaires and clinical examinations. It was found that peristomal skin disorders were higher for participants with an ileostomy (57%) and urostomy (48%) than in those with a colostomy (35%). Of the diagnoses of skin disorders, 77% could be related to contact with stoma effluent. Only 38% of diagnosed participants agreed that they had a skin disorder and more than 80% did not seek professional health care. The study revealed a high frequency of peristomal skin disorders. Participants frequently failed to perceive that they had a skin irritation and did not seek help. This suggests that more education and perhaps regular, annual follow-up visits at local stoma care clinics are needed.

Adolescent↗