Patients With Uncontrolled AD Dissatisfied With Treatment Strategies

Patients with uncontrolled atopic dermatitis (AD) are highly dissatisfied with their therapy and have a negative outlook on their quality of life (QOL), according to a recent study published in Dermatology and Therapy.

“The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of topical AD therapies on disease control, physician and patient treatment satisfaction, and QOL in a real-world setting,” wrote the study authors.

Researchers performed a retrospective, point-in-time study of physician-completed medical records and patient surveys. Patient-reported outcomes included the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Children’s DLQI (CDLQI), Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM), and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaire.

Results showed that 24.5% of patients had physician-reported uncontrolled AD. Rates of physician dissatisfaction with current treatment were 32% and were 24.8% for patients. The percentages were higher for patients with uncontrolled AD compared with controlled AD. Poorer disease control correlated with higher rates of treatment dissatisfaction and were reported among patients receiving topical with systemic therapy. Increased impairment in the DLQI, CDLGI, POEM, and WPAI were also reported with uncontrolled disease.

“In summary, doctors and their patients currently using topical medications to treat AD reported that treatments were not working well enough and that uncontrolled disease was negatively affecting patients’ quality of life and work, indicating that additional treatment options are needed,” concluded the study authors.

Reference
Anderson P, Austin J, Lofland JH, Piercy J, Joish VN. Inadequate disease control, treatment dissatisfaction, and quality-of-life impairments among US patients receiving topical therapy for atopic dermatitis. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2021;10.1007/s13555-021-00580-2. doi:10.1007/s13555-021-00580-2