INTRODUCTION
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing, inflammatory skin disease, with a prevalence in the United States (US) of 7.3%.1 AD causes a variety of dermatologic signs and symptoms, resulting in numerous impacts on quality of life, such as sleep disturbance due to itching,2 and can negatively impact patients’ emotional and social functioning, and impede occupational and academic pursuits.3
Standard approaches to treatment typically include basic skin care and emollient agents, topical corticosteroid therapy and topical calcineurin inhibitors, which may be supplemented by the addition of phototherapy, off-label immunosuppressants, or the biologic, dupilumab.4,5 Dupilumab is currently the only FDAapproved biologic for AD in the US; a number of new systemic treatments are anticipated to become available in the US later this year.6,7 A recent consensus guidance recommends systemic therapy be considered for patients with AD after considering both disease severity and impact of AD on quality of life.8
Given the evolving treatment landscape and prescribing guidance, it is important to understand the symptomatic experience from the patient’s viewpoint, including perceived control of AD symptoms and the nature and frequency of AD flares. While flare triggers and flare management are an important aspect of AD, limited research has been conducted on flare severity and symptomology, especially in those currently treated for AD. Moreover, there is lack of consistency in how flares are defined in AD studies.9
The primary objective of this study was to gain a greater understanding of AD signs and symptoms, flares, and associated bother to patients with AD. Of further interest was to characterize the association of the symptomatic experience by disease severity and control.
Standard approaches to treatment typically include basic skin care and emollient agents, topical corticosteroid therapy and topical calcineurin inhibitors, which may be supplemented by the addition of phototherapy, off-label immunosuppressants, or the biologic, dupilumab.4,5 Dupilumab is currently the only FDAapproved biologic for AD in the US; a number of new systemic treatments are anticipated to become available in the US later this year.6,7 A recent consensus guidance recommends systemic therapy be considered for patients with AD after considering both disease severity and impact of AD on quality of life.8
Given the evolving treatment landscape and prescribing guidance, it is important to understand the symptomatic experience from the patient’s viewpoint, including perceived control of AD symptoms and the nature and frequency of AD flares. While flare triggers and flare management are an important aspect of AD, limited research has been conducted on flare severity and symptomology, especially in those currently treated for AD. Moreover, there is lack of consistency in how flares are defined in AD studies.9
The primary objective of this study was to gain a greater understanding of AD signs and symptoms, flares, and associated bother to patients with AD. Of further interest was to characterize the association of the symptomatic experience by disease severity and control.
