Atopic Dermatitis, Sleep, and the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Abstract Objective To investigate sleep disorders among children with atopic dermatitis (AD), before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Materials and Methods The present longitudinal, prospective study included 26 patients with AD, and the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC) questionnaire and questions about sleep hygiene were used. The severity of AD was determined by the Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM). The first evaluation was conducted before the pandemic (in 2019) and the second, during the pandemic, from September to December 2020. Results Sleep disorder was present in 17 (65.38%) patients in the 1st evaluation, and in 11 (42.30%) in the 2nd (p = 0.04). In the 1st evaluation, disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep (DIMSs) were more frequent in patients with moderate-to-severe AD (83.33%). During the pandemic, 6 patients (23.07%) reported improvement in sleep quality. Conclusion Sleep quality was negatively influenced by the severity of AD. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was improvement in sleep quality, despite the absence of changes in disease severity.