Self-reported dermatological problems and preferences for health: an epidemiological survey

Patient preferences for health can be assessed and expressed in quantitative terms known as health state utilities. In this epidemiological study, we demonstrate the importance of dermatological problems for health state utilities. A cross-sectional survey including 5,404 individuals aged 20-84 years was conducted in the County of Uppland, Sweden. Information on dermatological problems and use of prescription-only topical drugs was obtained by self-report. Dermatological problems were reported by 20.5%. A rating scale used to assess utilities showed that persons reporting dermatological problems had lower health state utilities than those not reporting such problems (p<0.001). Persons using prescription-only topical drugs had lower health state utilities than others with dermatological problems. Dermatological problems had an independent and statistically significant effect on health state utilities when age, sex, somatic and psychiatric co-morbidity, and pain were included in the multivariate analysis. It is shown that skin disorders are a considerable problem in the population and results in a significant decrease in health state utilities.