Unveiling the Impact of Moderate and Severe Atopic Dermatitis: Insights on Burden, Clinical Characteristics, and Healthcare Resource Utilization in Adult Greek Patients from the APOLO Cross-Sectional Study
<b>Background</b>: Moderate to severe (M2S) atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic condition impacting individuals, society, and healthcare systems. Considering the changing M2S-AD treatment landscape, this study assesses the M2S-AD burden in patients reaching referral centers in Greece. <b>Methods</b>: This was a multicenter, cross-sectional study. Patients aged 12 years or older with clinically diagnosed M2S-AD were enrolled. Data collected included clinical practice assessments and the following validated patient-reported instruments: Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI); EuroQol-5 Dimensions-3 Level scale (EQ-5D-3L); Patient Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM); Peak Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (PP-NRS); and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment: General Health (WPAI:GH). A pain frequency/intensity/cause questionnaire and a sleep disturbance scale were also used. <b>Results</b>: Outcomes of 184 adults (51.1% female) with M2S-AD based on the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) are presented (n = 117 moderate; n = 67 severe). Among the patients, 14.8% were obese, 59.2% had allergic comorbidities, and 88.0% were receiving AD-specific therapy (systemic: 38.6%). The median age, disease duration, body surface area, and total EASI scores were 38.8 years, 11.8 years, 30.0%, and 16.9, respectively. The median DLQI score was 12.0, with 'symptoms/feelings' being the most affected domain. EQ-5D dimensions 'anxiety/depression' and 'pain/discomfort' were also affected (65.2% and 64.1% reporting problems, respectively). The median POEM score was 17.0. Pain, severe pruritus (PP-NRS ≥ 7), and sleep disturbance were reported by 80.4%, 62.0%, and 88.5%, respectively. The median WPAI:GH 'work productivity loss' and 'activity impairment' scores were 23.8% and 30.0%, respectively. <b>Conclusions:</b> Both moderate and severe AD patients reaching Greek specialized centers experience significant symptom burden and impairments in quality of life, sleep, work, and daily activities.
Authors
- Alexander Stratigos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6088-5694)
- Alexander Katoulis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8189-7486)
- Ioannis Skiadas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4964-0266)
- Stamatios Gregoriou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7585-1032)
- Michael P. Makris (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2713-2380)
- Fotios Psarros
- Christopher Koulias (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5825-3007)
- Elizabeth Lazaridou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4072-3591)
- Vasiliki Chasapi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2168-3317)
- Sophia Georgiou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4079-8101)
- M. Nakou
- Efstratios Vakirlis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8814-3561)
- Dimitrios Vourdas
Institutions
- University of Patras (GR)
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (GR)
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (GR)
- Hellenic Air Force (GR)
- Papageorgiou General Hospital (GR)
- Space Hellas (Greece) (GR)
- Andreas Sygros Hospital (GR)
- Athens Naval & Veterans Hospital (GR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Clinical Medicine
- Published
- 2024-10-23
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13216327
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Dermatology and Skin Diseases
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.53
Funders
- Pfizer
- Sanofi
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals