A study involving 1,011 adolescent and adult patients from Germany and Switzerland highlighted significant gender differences in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). Researchers discovered that while male patients exhibited more severe objective symptoms of AD, such as higher scores on the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis test and greater affected body surface area, female patients reported more severe subjective symptoms and equal impairments in quality of life. This discrepancy between objective and subjective measures of AD severity raises questions about sex-associated differences in the condition, which are currently not well understood.

Further analysis showed that these differences in symptom severity were independent of age, education, and most treatments, including ultraviolet therapy. The researchers also observed that higher education levels had a more positive impact on females with AD than on males. They further noted a correlation between lower educational levels, greater symptom severity, and increased treatment use in both genders, aligning with the known social gradient in health. Researchers concluded that further multivariate analysis is needed to better understand and validate these findings and to explore the underlying biological or psychosocial mechanisms.

Reference: Gawel R. Severity of atopic dermatitis symptoms differs between males, females. Healio. Published July 5, 2022. Accessed April 4, 2024. https://www.healio.com/news/allergy-asthma/20220705/severity-of-atopic-dermatitis-symptoms-differs-between-males-females