A Real-World Data Study on the Healthcare Resource Use for Uncontrolled Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis in Secondary Care in the United Kingdom Prior to the Introduction of Biologic Treatment

Richard D A Hudson; Mahreen Ameen; Susannah M C George; Catherine A Harwood; Richard B Weller; John T Lear; Rajesh Rout; Thishi Surendranathan; Milos Petrovic; Anthony P Bewley

doi:10.2147/CEOR.S333847

A Real-World Data Study on the Healthcare Resource Use for Uncontrolled Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis in Secondary Care in the United Kingdom Prior to the Introduction of Biologic Treatment

Clinicoecon Outcomes Res. 2022 Apr 4:14:167-177. doi: 10.2147/CEOR.S333847. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Sanofi, Berkshire, UK.
² Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
³ University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, Brighton, UK.
⁴ Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK.
⁵ QMUL, London, UK.
⁶ NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, UK.
⁷ University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
⁸ Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Salford, UK.
⁹ Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester University, Manchester, UK.

Abstract

Background: Whilst there is international evidence around the high healthcare resource utilization (HRU) associated with atopic dermatitis (AD), there is a lack of published data from the United Kingdom (UK).

Methods: A retrospective, descriptive, observational study was conducted to evaluate the burden of moderate-to-severe AD on the National Health Service (NHS) in an adult UK population treated with traditional standard of care prior to the introduction of biologics. Patients (n=59) were recruited from 6 UK NHS Hospital Trusts and observed over three years.

Results: 707 dermatology clinic visits were recorded over the observation period, amounting to 6.6 visits per patient-year, most commonly for routine check-ups most of which involved dermatology consultants (n=469, 66%). Physicians were the most consulted healthcare professional (n=652, 92%); emollients were the most common treatment (n=80 courses). 174 flares requiring additional medical advice were recorded in total (1.6 per patient-year).

Discussion/conclusions: Complex treatment pathways for adult patients in the UK with moderate-to-severe AD incur considerable HRU, particularly for those patients non-responsive to systemic therapies with broad immunosuppressant action. Recent advances in biologics-based AD management could possibly have a significant positive impact on HRU through significant reduction in the number of NHS touch points identified in this study.

Keywords: atopic dermatitis; healthcare resource use; observational study.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Sanofi In accordance with the UK Department of Health Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care, this study was approved by the NHS Health Research Authority East Midlands–Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee (REC reference: 17/EM/0143; protocol DUPILL08674 amendment 1 approval date 26/09/2017). All necessary local Trust approvals were obtained. Eligible patients were all approached for consent before they were included in the study.