A B S T R A C TBackground: Systemic therapies are commonly used for patients with uncontrolled moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) and impaired quality of life (QoL). However, real-world treatment patterns and unmet needs of adults with moderate-to-severe AD receiving systemic therapies are poorly quantified. Objective: To evaluate unmet needs in patients with moderate-to-severe AD treated with systemic therapies. Methods: Adults with AD diagnosis in past 5 years and a prescription for systemic treatment or phototherapy in past 6 months were identified from the Optum Research Database. Patients completed a survey about symptoms, treatment, and QoL. Chi-squared and t tests analyzed bivariable comparisons of demographics and outcomes. Spearman's rank-order correlation analyses examined the relationship between frequency of flares and outcomes. Results: Eight hundred and one participants were included (mean age, 45.2 years; 71.8% female). In the 12 months before baseline survey, 38.3% reported no remission from AD. In the month before baseline survey, 63.6% used topical corticosteroids, and 81.3% of patients experienced 1 or more flares. Patients experiencing flares reported worse Patient-Orientated Eczema Measure (POEM), Peak Pruritus Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and Dermatology Life Quality Index scores (DLQI), lower treatment satisfaction, and greater work productivity loss than patients without flares (all P < .001). Patients with severe atopic dermatitis reported worse POEM, Peak Pruritus NRS, and DLQI, lower treatment satisfaction, and greater work productivity loss than patients with moderate AD (all P < .001). Conclusion: Despite receiving systemic therapies, adults with moderate-to-severe AD reported disease symptoms, recurrent flares, and impaired QoL, suggesting unmet therapeutic needs.
Women with ovarian cancer seeking assistance from web-based decision support programs may represent a subgroup with unique clinical features compared with the general patient population.
Introduction
Successful treatment for serious mental illnesses (SMIs) requires a good therapeutic alliance with healthcare providers and compliance with prescribed therapies such as antipsychotic medications. This retrospective study, which utilized administrative claims linked with abstracted medical chart data, addressed a data gap regarding compliance-related discussions between providers and patients.
Methods
Commercially insured patients in ambulatory care post-acute (emergency or inpatient) event were eligible. Criteria included age 18–65 years; schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depressive disorder diagnoses; continuous enrollment 6 months before to 12 months after the first acute event claim dated 01/01/2014 to 12/31/2015; and antipsychotic medication prescription. Demographic and clinical data, and patient–provider discussions about treatment compliance were characterized from claims and abstracted medical charts.
Results
Ninety patients (62% female, mean age 41 years) were included and 680 visits were abstracted; only 58% had first-visit antipsychotic compliance discussions. Notably, 18% of patients had discussions using the specific terms “compliance,” “persistence,” or “adherence,” whereas half were identified by more general terms. Compliance discussions were observed least often among the patients with schizophrenia, as compared with bipolar or major depressive disorders—a counterintuitive finding.
Discussion
Compliance discussions may represent intervention opportunities to optimize treatment, yet their study is a complex endeavor. The results of this study show an opportunity to improve this valuable treatment step.
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