Clinical examination and covariates
The medical history, comorbidities, and aggravating factors were chosena priori . The general medical history included the patient’s own medical history, family medical history, and life-time record of incidence of allergies, hay fevers, and asthmas. To determine the severity of AD, accredited dermatologists evaluated Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA) and Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) scores of patients. The IGA rating was used to describe the overall appearance of lesions at a given clinical visit, while the EASI score was used to measure the extent of affected areas and severity of AD. In this study, AD severity grouping was classified based on IGA ratings. IGA ratings of 1, 2, 3, and 4 were considered mild, moderate, and severe, respectively. In terms of comorbidities, we collected patients’ information on the prevalence of common non-atopic and atopic comorbid diseases. Patients were also asked to identify the aggravating factors of AD from a predetermined list provided by dermatologists. Additionally, several health-related measurement scales, such as the weekly average Numeric Rating Scale Itch Intensity (NRSI), Atopic Dermatitis Control Tool (ADCT), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Sleep Disturbance Scores (SDS) were determined to comprehensively assess the pruritus intensity, AD disease control, quality of life, and mental health. The patients’ treatment plans for AD were also obtained for analysis.