Impact of itch and skin pain on quality of life in adult patients with atopic dermatitis in Japan: results from a real-world, point-in-time, survey of physicians and patients

Figures & data

Table 1. Physician-reported patient demographic and clinical characteristics.

	All patients (n = 186)	No I/SP patients (n = 89)	I-only patients (n = 71)	I + SP patients (n = 26)	p Value
Age, years, mean ± SD	38.8 ± 15.4	36.8 ± 16.2	40.9 ± 14.3	40.2 ± 15.0	.210 (AN)
Male sex, n (%)	108 (58.1)	50 (56.2)	42 (59.2)	16 (61.5)	.864 (CH)
Years since diagnosis^a	11.3 ± 11.1	11.6 ± 10.8	12.3 ± 10.3	7.6 ± 15.4	.624 (AN)
Mean ± SD, (n)	(n = 59)	(n = 30)	(n = 22)	(n = 7)
CCI score, n (%)
0	178 (95.7)	84 (94.4)	69 (97.2)	25 (96.2)
1+	8 (4.3)	5 (5.6)	2 (2.8)	1 (3.8)	.787 (FE)
Mean ± SD	0.1 ± 0.3	0.1 ± 0.4	0.0 ± 0.3	0.0 ± 0.2	.591 (AN)
Current severity, n (%)
Mild	61 (32.8)	37 (41.6)	22 (31.0)	2 (7.7)	<.001 (FE)
Moderate	109 (58.6)	44 (49.4)	48 (67.6)	17 (65.4)
Severe	16 (8.6)	8 (9.0)	1 (1.4)	7 (26.9)
Current % BSA, mean ± SD	27.3 ± 20.4	23.5 ± 19.2	28.3 ± 18.2	37.6 ± 26.0	.008 (AN)
Current EASI, mean ± SD	10.3 ± 8.1	8.3 ± 7.2	10.0 ± 5.8	18.1 ± 11.6	<.001 (AN)
Range 0–72
No. of body areas affected^b mean ± SD	2.7 ± 1.2	2.5 ± 1.2	2.7 ± 1.1	3.6 ± 0.6	<.001 (AN)
Current drug treatment
Topical/other^c, n (%)	127 (68.3)	63 (70.8)	51 (71.8)	13 (50.0)	.033 (FE)
Systemic, n (%)	24 (12.9)	8 (9.0)	7 (9.9)	9 (34.6)
Biologic, n (%)	35 (18.8)	18 (20.2)	13 (18.3)	4 (15.4)

All p values shown in Table 1 are across the three analysis groups. Pairwise comparisons between individual groups were also conducted. These are not shown in the table but included in the main text where appropriate.

^a Reduced base due to missing data (physician unaware).

^b Number of body areas affected out of a maximum of four.

^c Other included prescribed emollients, phototherapy, wet wraps, bleach baths, antibiotics for skin infection, antihistamines or pain medication.

Abbreviations. AN, ANOVA test; BSA, body surface area affected; CCI, Charlson Comorbidity Index; CH, Chi-squared test; EASI, Eczema Area and Severity Index; FE, Fisher’s Exact test; I-only, itch only; I + SP, itch and skin pain; No I/SP, no itch or skin pain; SD, standard deviation.

Table 2. Physician-reported symptoms and concomitant conditions.

	All patients	No I/SP patients	I-only patients	I + SP patients	p Value
Day to day symptom, n (%)	186	89	71	26
Moderate/severe skin infection	22 (11.8)	10 (11.2)	9 (12.7)	3 (11.5)	.951 (FE)
Moderate/severe dry skin (in non-lesional areas)	84 (45.2)	27 (30.3)	42 (59.2)	15 (57.7)	<.001 (CH)
Acute episode symptom, n (%)	186	89	71	26
Moderate/severe skin infection	16 (8.6)	6 (6.7)	3 (4.2)	7 (26.9)	.004 (FE)
Moderate/severe dry skin (in non-lesional areas)	45 (24.2)	21 (23.6)	10 (14.1)	14 (53.8)	<.001 (CH)
Concomitant condition, n (%)	165	77	64	24
Asthma	35 (21.2)	14 (18.2)	13 (20.3)	8 (33.3)	.277 (CH)
Allergic rhinitis	61 (37.0)	28 (36.4)	25 (39.1)	8 (33.3)	.874 (CH)
Urticaria	18 (10.9)	11 (14.3)	6 (9.4)	1 (4.2)	.380 (FE)
Angioedema	2 (1.2)	1 (1.3)	0 (0.0)	1 (4.2)	.271 (FE)
Allergic contact dermatitis	12 (7.3)	8 (10.4)	2 (3.1)	2 (8.3)	.227 (FE)
Atopic keratoconjunctivitis	16 (9.7)	9 (11.7)	2 (3.1)	5 (20.8)	.023 (FE)
Other allergic condition(s)	1 (0.6)	1 (1.3)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	1.000 (FE)
Nasal polyps	4 (2.4)	1 (1.3)	2 (3.1)	1 (4.2)	.494 (FE)
Alopecia Areata	3 (1.8)	2 (2.6)	1 (1.6)	0 (0.0)	1.000 (FE)
None of these	66 (40.0)	30 (39.0)	28 (43.8)	8 (33.3)	.652 (CH)

All p values shown in Table 2 are across the three analysis groups.

Figure 1. I-only/I + SP patients have a higher EASI score and number of body areas affected versus reference group (No I/SP). Number of body areas affected out of a maximum of four. Abbreviations. EASI, Eczema Area and Severity Index; I-only, itch only; I + SP, itch and skin pain; No I/SP, no itch or skin pain.

Figure 2. I-only/I + SP patients are more likely to be receiving a potent topical steroid or antihistamine versus reference group (No I/SP). Abbreviations. I-only, itch only; I + SP, itch and skin pain; No I/SP, no itch or skin pain.

Figure 3. I-only/I + SP have a higher POEM score and % work impairment versus reference group (No I/SP). Abbreviations. I-only, itch only; I + SP, itch and skin pain; No I/SP, no itch or skin pain; POEM, Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure – differences are numerical; WPAI, Work Productivity and Activity Impairment – differences show percentage.

Figure 4. I-only/I + SP patients are more likely to have daily sleep disturbance and to be bothered by this versus reference group (No I/SP). Abbreviations. I-only, itch only; I + SP, itch and skin pain; No I/SP, no itch or skin pain.

Figure 5. I-only/I + SP patients are more likely to be dissatisfied with improvement as a result of treatment and with inconvenience of treatment versus reference group (No I/SP). Abbreviations. I-only, itch only; I + SP, itch and skin pain; No I/SP, no itch or skin pain

Data availability statement

All data that support the findings of this study are the intellectual property of Adelphi Real World. All requests for access should be addressed directly to Peter Anderson at [email protected]