The patient-reported disease burden in adults with atopic dermatitis : a cross-sectional study in Europe and Canada

Cross-sectional data on patient burden in adults with atopic dermatitis () from real-world clinical practice are limited. This study compared patient-reported burden associated with adult across severity levels from clinical practices in Canada and Europe. This study included adults (18-65 years) diagnosed with by dermatologists, general practitioners or allergists. Participants categorized as mild (n = 547; 37.3%), moderate (n = 520; 35.4%) or severe (n = 400; 27.3%) based on Investigator's Global Assessment completed a questionnaire that included pruritus and pain numerical rating scales, Patient-Oriented-Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis (PO-SCORAD) itch and sleep visual analogue scales, Dermatology Life Quality Index (), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Participants were also stratified by inadequate efficacy/intolerance/contraindication to cyclosporine [Cyclo; n = 62 (4 mild, 18 moderate, 40 severe)] and any systemic immunomodulatory agent [; n = 104 (13 mild, 31 moderate, 60 severe)] and compared with the severe group excluding participants identified as Cyclo/. Age was similar across severity groups; the proportion of women was higher in the mild group relative to severe (61.2% vs. 50.5%; P < 0.001). Compared with moderate and mild, participants with severe had more comorbidities, higher itch and pain severity, worse sleep and higher levels of anxiety and depression (all P < 0.001). Mean ± score among participants with severe (16.2 ± 6.9) showed a large effect on quality of life that was higher than those with moderate (10.2 ± 6.3) and mild (5.5 ± 4.9) (both P < 0.001). The burden among Cyclo and subgroups was generally similar to that of participants with severe . Adults with reported a substantial burden across multiple domains that was significantly higher in those with severe disease. The burden among participants in the Cyclo/ subgroups was similar to those with severe.