Atopic Dermatitis ED Visits Common, Costly

A poster presented at the AAD 2018 Annual Meeting found that atopic dermatitis is a costly driver of increased emergency department (ED) utilization.

“Atopic dermatitis or eczema is associated with acute flares, intractable pruritus, and comorbid health conditions, all of which may prompt urgent care visits,” Lauren Kwa BA, and Jonathan I Silverberg, MD, PhD, MPH, both of the department of dermatology at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, wrote in the presentation. “However, little is known about the urgent care utilization for atopic dermatitis or eczema in the United States.”

In order to determine the drivers of ED utilization among patients with atopic dermatitis, the researchers analyzed data from between 2006 and 2012 for nationwide ED visits. During the study period, the researchers identified 1,857,689 weighted ED visits for patients with atopic dermatitis or eczema. 

Study results showed that during the study period the prevalence of atopic dermatitis ED visits increased significantly. 

The researchers also found that the total cost of atopic dermatitis-related ED visits increased significantly over the study period, from $86,865,154 in 2006 to $172,761,783 in 2012.

Ms Kwa and Dr Silverberg also identified some drivers of these ED visits

“Diagnosis of atopic dermatitis or eczema were associated with having Medicaid insurance or being uninsured, lower household-income, hospital location in a metropolitan area,” the researchers wrote. “There appear to be major health care and socioeconomic disparities associated with ED visits for atopic dermatitis or eczema.” —David Costill