Healthcare Utilization and Treatment Patterns in Patients with Chronic Prurigo and Chronic Pruritus in Germany

Abstract

<b><i>Background:</i></b> To date, there have been no large studies describing real-world treatment of chronic prurigo (CPG) and pruritus (CPR) in Germany. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> To determine the healthcare utilization, treatment patterns, and costs associated with CPG and CPR in Germany. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Retrospective analysis using anonymized claims data (German DAK-Gesundheit), based on a 40% sample of all insured adults of the DAK-Gesundheit on December 31, 2010 (<i>N</i> = 2,006,003). <b><i>Results:</i></b> Patients with CPR (prevalence 2.2%) most commonly visited general medicine/general practitioners (GPs, 80.1%), followed by gynecologists (66.1%) and dermatologists (51.1%). Patients with CPG (prevalence 0.2%) most commonly visited dermatologists (85.7%), GPs (78.1%), and ophthalmologists (47.2%). Of adult patients, 44% received at least one drug prescription. Two thirds of patients with a drug prescription received ≥1 topical drug (66.2%), and 54.3% ≥1 systemic drug (total costs of approximately EUR 550,000 and 2,500,000, respectively). Of patients with CPG, 33.8% received ≥1 systemic and 45.1% ≥1 topical drug prescription (costs of approximately EUR 360,000 vs. 105,000). Of patients with CPR, 23.5% received ≥1 systemic and 28.6% ≥1 topical drug prescription (costs of approximately EUR 2,000,000 vs. 500,000). Of patients with CPG, 5.8% received ≥1 phototherapy application vs. 1.2% of patients with CPR. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> These findings reflect the reality of care and can form a basis for the identification of overuse, underuse, and misuse in order to design CPG and CPR healthcare more effectively and efficiently.

Chronic prurigo: Insufficient disease control in spite of high healthcare usage

“…3 Patients are mostly treated by dermatologists and general practitioners, with 33.8% of patients receiving at least one systemic and 45.1% one topical prescription drug. 4 We investigated healthcare utilization and treatment patterns across Europe in a prospective, multicentre study.…”

Prurigo nodularis: Studie mit Vixarelimab zeigt vielversprechende Ergebnisse mit neuen Ansätzen

“…Prurigo nodularis (PN) ist eine Hauterkrankung aus dem Kreis der chronischen Prurigo (CPG), die mit starkem Pruritus und Einschränkungen der gesundheitsbezogenen Lebensqualität einhergeht, inklusive Beeinträchtigungen des Nachtschlafes und der psychosozialen Gesundheit sowie Stigmatisierung. In Deutschland sind etwa 200 von 100.000 (0,2%) Menschen in der Bevölkerung betroffen [1]. Bei der PN, die meist einen chronischen Verlauf annimmt, zeigen sich auf der Haut multiple symmetrisch angeordnete hyperkeratotisch-knotige Läsionen mit dem Leitsymptom eines quälenden Juckreizes.…”