Poor symptom control and high burden among eczema patients worldwide
Published: November 1, 2022
Previous studies have documented the high patient and caregiver burden associated with atopic dermatitis (AD). Less is known about the factors—especially those related to treatment options and the delivery of medical care—that may relate to burden and unmet needs among patients and their caregivers.
In this article by Capozza et al in the The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, 3,171 adult patients and caregivers of children with AD responded to a 53-item survey that included questions related to the impact of the condition, financial burden, experience with medical care and treatments, and control of symptoms based on validated instruments. The survey was offered in 5 languages and promoted through social media and other communication channels of patient organizations.
The health-related quality-of-life scores for adult patients with AD (driven by 2 domains: pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression) were worse than those reported for asthma and type 2 diabetes in previous studies (0.72; 95% CI, 0.65-0.78). Patients and caregivers reported substantial financial impacts even in countries with government-funded health care systems, though the greatest impact was in the United States. In all countries, adults reported better control of symptoms than children, but neither group nor any nationality reported adequate control on average (rescaled mean, 57.5; 95% CI, 56.1-58.9), and control correlated negatively with disease severity.
Similarly, satisfaction with treatments, which was moderate across countries on average, was much lower for respondents with more severe disease symptoms (P < .001). Patients who saw a specialist (a dermatologist or an allergist) instead of a general practitioner for AD care indicated better long-term control of symptoms (by 4 points on average on the 100-point scale; 95% CI, 2.6-5.4; P < .001). Finally, self-management training and shared decision making were uncommonly reported by patients in all countries except by respondents from the United States, but both were associated with better long-term control of symptoms and higher satisfaction.
The burden of AD, evaluated as health-related quality-of-life detriments, financial impacts, and uncontrolled symptoms, is significant and highest for patients with more severe atopic dermatitis who report greater challenges in achieving symptom resolution with existing treatments and approaches to care. The better outcomes associated with respondents who saw specialists suggest that patients, especially those with more severe AD, might benefit from medical care that is guided by providers with more in-depth knowledge of this complex condition. Finally, wider use of patient-centered care practices (specifically, self-management training and shared decision making) could improve outcomes and boost satisfaction with treatments for AD, though more research on this topic is warranted.
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice is an official journal of the AAAAI, focusing on practical information for the practicing clinician.
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