Discordance Between Diagnosis Tools for Assessing Eczema in Infants: A Challenge for Intervention Trials.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: There is no standardized definition for infant eczema, and various tools have been used across studies, precluding direct comparison. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess and to compare the accuracy of diagnostic tools for infant eczema using the extensive data collected in Melbourne Infant Study BCG for Allergy and Infection Reduction (MIS BAIR), an eczema prevention trial. METHODS: Eczema incidence was assessed by 3 questionnaire-based measures: modified UK diagnostic tool, parent-reported medically diagnosed eczema, and parent-reported use of topical corticosteroids. Agreement between the definitions was quantified using κ coefficient. Eczema severity was assessed by 3-monthly Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) scores and a SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) clinical assessment at a 12-month visit (ClinicalTrial.gov NCT01906853). RESULTS: Among the 538 participants fulfilling at least 1 of the 3 questionnaire-based eczema definitions, only 197 participants (37%) met all 3 definitions. Agreement between the definitions was poor with κ coefficients ranging from -0.11 to 0.62. The most frequently reported symptoms were generally dry skin (483/538, 90%) and pruritus (400/538, 74%). The face (352/538, 65%) and the trunk (306/538, 57%) were more frequently affected than the creases (257/538, 48%). Participants fulfilling all 3 questionnaire-based definitions of eczema were more likely to have higher severity scores and earlier onset of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: There is poor agreement between currently available tools for assessing infant eczema.