The Multidimensional Burden of Atopic Dermatitis Among Adults

Importance

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is long term and burdensome. Studies investigating disease burden in adults are limited in scope with gaps in understanding of the adult patient lived experience.

Objective

To describe the multidimensional burden of AD among mainly US adults.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This survey study for an externally led patient-focused drug development meeting with the US Food and Drug Administration on adult patients with AD was conducted between August 1, 2019, and October 11, 2019. Data were analyzed betwean March 26, 2021, and June 29, 2021.

Main Outcomes and Measures

We used multivariable ordinal regression to assess associations between demographic and clinical variables and patient-reported overall AD impact scores (ordinal scale from 1 [no impact] to 5 [significant impact]).

Results

Among 1065 survey respondents, 114 (11%) were aged 18 to 24 years, 235 (22%) were 25 to 34 years, 242 (23%) were 35 to 50 years, 288 (27%) were 51 to 64 years, and 186 (17%) were aged 65 years or older; 881 (83%) were women. Four hundred eighty-nine (46%) participants reported low-moderate AD impact scores (2-3), 544 (51%) reported high-significant impact scores (4-5), whereas 32 (3%) reported no association of AD with disease burden (impact score, 1). Variables strongly associated with overall impact scores were current AD severity (moderate: OR, 4.13; 95% CI, 2.94-5.79; severe: OR, 13.63; 95% CI, 8.65-21.50 vs mild), and time spent managing AD (11-20 hours: OR, 2.67; 95% CI, 1.77-4.03, ≥21 hours: OR, 5.34; 95% CI, 3.22-8.85, vs <5 hours).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this survey study, AD severity and time spent managing symptoms showed the strongest associations with disease burden. This analysis highlights the multidimensional burden of AD in adults and emphasizes the need for more effective treatment strategies that reduce the time patients spend managing their AD.