Experience in the management of real-world patients with chronic prurigo nodularis in a dermatology setting: results from the ECOSPIN Spanish survey-based study

Background: Chronic prurigo nodularis (CPN) is a chronic, inflammatory, highly pruritic skin disease with a significant burden, but the epidemiological data available are still very limited. This study aimed to describe the sociodemographic and clinical profiles of real-world patients with CPN seen in dermatology consultations in Spain. Methods: ECOSPIN was a Spanish, observational, ecological, survey-based study with aggregated data obtained from the experience and routine clinical practice of 39 dermatologists. Results: According to the dermatologists, a mean of 29.1% of patients with CPN were aged 51-60 years, and the majority were women (61%). A mean of 97.9% experienced itching, with frequent comorbidities: atopic dermatitis (41.1%), hypertension (32.1%), anxiety (57.4%), and depression (43.6%). Dermatologists considered the etiology of CPN to be dermatological in a mean of 56.5% of cases. The primary treatments were topical corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors (91.2%). Among systemic therapies, dupilumab was the most used (51.8%) and was rated as the most effective. The most relevant treatment goal was rapid itch elimination or reduction, while managing comorbidities was important for minimizing healthcare resource utilization, based on the dermatologists' experience. Conclusion: The study highlighted unmet needs and the high burden of CPN, emphasizing the need for multidisciplinary and individualized treatment approaches.