Characterizing treatment‐related patient needs in atopic eczema: insights for personalized goal orientation

Abstract

Background Atopic eczema (AE) is a common and burdensome chronic skin disease. Clinical guidelines suggest an evidence-based, personalized and stepwise treatment approach. Only few studies have so far focused on the specific patient needs in treatment. Objectives To characterize therapeutic needs of patients with AE in routine care. Methods Nationwide cross-sectional study in 91 dermatology practices and outpatient clinics. Descriptive statistics were used for valuation. Comparisons of HRQoL and general health status were performed including subgroups (age, gender and disease duration). Group comparisons of patient needs were performed for age groups, gender and disease duration. Correlations between patients' needs (PNQ) and HRQoL, generic health status and severity were tested. In addition, a hierarchical regression analysis was performed to determine which variables contribute to explain the variance in patient needs.

Disease burden and patient needs and benefits in anogenital psoriasis: developmental specificities for person‐centred healthcare of emerging adults and adults

“…Regarding patient needs, to ‘get better skin quickly’ was rated by all patients as the most relevant, and the needs to ‘be able to lead a normal working life’ and to ‘be able to have more contact with other people’ as the less relevant, consistently with previous studies with patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis . Unsurprisingly, patients with anogenital involvement rated a wide range of treatment needs as more important, but no differences were found for treatment benefits, which may reflect the embarrassment of both patients and healthcare providers in discussing anogenital lesions in routine care and the consequent disregard of their specific needs in clinical decisions …”

“…Emerging adults tended to rate a wide range of patient needs as less important compared with older adults, and they also perceived less treatment benefits. A generalized tendency for increased needs as a function of ageing was also described in patients with atopic dermatitis . These results may suggest a greater difficulty of emerging adults to establish treatment goals as a consequence of a generalized developmental instability .…”

Cost‐of‐illness of atopic dermatitis in Germany: data from dermatology routine care

“…2,4,5 Various treatment needs make the therapy of AD challenging, and despite receiving systemic therapy, patients still have unmet therapeutic needs also resulting in a substantial disease burden with impaired quality of life and profound work productivity loss. [6][7][8][9][10] The European guidelines for treatment of AD recommend reactive topical therapy for mild AD (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis, SCORAD < 25) or transient eczema, complemented by UV therapy and proactive topical therapy for moderate AD (SCORAD 25-50) or recurrent eczema and systemic therapy and hospitalisation for severe AD (SCORAD > 50) or persistent eczema. Among the systemic therapies, dupilumab, the first biologic therapy, was approved as first-line treatment for moderate-to-severe AD in September 2017.…”

Impact of Oral Abrocitinib Monotherapy on Patient-Reported Symptoms and Quality of Life in Adolescents and Adults with Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis: A Pooled Analysis of Patient-Reported Outcomes

“…Moderate-to-severe AD negatively affects patient health-related quality of life (HRQoL), impacting patients, their finances, families, and society in general [ 6 – 8 ]. Pruritus is the most common and bothersome symptom of AD [ 4 , 9 ] and is associated with sleep disturbance [ 10 ], which additionally may lead to psychological comorbidities, including anxiety, depression, and fatigue [ 11 – 16 ]. Atopic dermatitis is also associated with a higher work absentee rate, causing substantial direct and indirect costs [ 17 ].…”