Relationship between Eczema and Self-reported Difficulties Keeping up with School Education: A Cross-sectional Study

Eczema is a common chronic disease that affects both children and adults, and may have an adverse impact on school performance, as it is characteristically pruritic, and hence may lead to poor concentration and inadequate sleep. The aim of this study was to elucidate the relationship between eczema and self-reported difficulties keeping up with school education. The study was based on cross-sectional questionnaire data collected in schools among all 9th graders (15–16 years old) within a Swedish county. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between having eczema and self-reported difficulties keeping up with school education. A total of 2,620 pupils participated (50.1% female). An increased odds ratio (OR) of self-reported difficulties keeping up with school education was found in adolescents with eczema compared with those without eczema after adjustment for sex and family residence (OR 2.13, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.32–3.44), and with additional adjustment for sleeping problems, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, allergy, rhinitis, asthma, and alcohol consumption (adjusted OR 1.78, CI 1.05–3.00). Eczema may be a relevant risk factor for difficulty keeping up with school education in adolescents. However, studies that can assess temporality, based in different settings with objective reports of both eczema and self-reported difficulties at school, are needed to confirm these findings. SIGNIFICANCE Eczema negatively influences quality of life, but there are conflicting results about its relationship with school performance. Results from this study revealed that eczema was a relevant independent risk factor for having difficulty keeping-up with school education in adolescents. Understanding whether people with eczema are at risk of impaired educational attainment is highly relevant to enable targeted preventive measures.