Impact of Measuring Patient-Reported Outcomes in Dermatology Drug Development

Rapid and sustained improvements in itch and quality of life with upadacitinib plus topical corticosteroids in adults and adolescents with atopic dermatitis: 52-week outcomes from the phase 3 AD Up study

Purpose: Atopic dermatitis (AD) adversely impacts quality of life (QoL). We evaluated the effect of upadacitinib, an oral selective Janus kinase inhibitor approved for moderate-to-severe AD, plus topical corticosteroids (+TCS) on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) over 52 weeks.

Materials and methods: In the phase 3 AD Up study (NCT03568318), adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe AD were randomized 1:1:1 to once-daily upadacitinib 15 mg, 30 mg, or placebo + TCS. Itch, skin pain/symptoms, sleep, QoL, daily activities, emotional state, mental health, and patient impressions of disease severity/improvement/treatment satisfaction were assessed.

Results: This analysis included 901 patients. Within 1-2 weeks, PRO improvements were greater with both upadacitinib doses than with placebo (p <.05). Improvements increased through weeks 4-8; rates were generally maintained through week 52. At week 52, the proportion of patients with clinically meaningful improvements in itch (Worst Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale improvement ≥4), skin pain (AD Symptom Scale Skin Pain improvement ≥4), sleep (AD Impact Scale [ADerm-IS] Sleep improvement ≥12), daily activities (ADerm-IS Daily Activities improvement ≥14), and emotional state (ADerm-IS Emotional State improvement ≥11) ranged from 62.1%-77.7% with upadacitinib 15 mg + TCS and 71.3%-83.6% with upadacitinib 30 mg + TCS.

Conclusions: Upadacitinib + TCS results in rapid, sustained improvements in burdensome AD symptoms and QoL.

[Translated article] Patient-reported outcome measures for assessing atopic dermatitis in clinical practice

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin condition that affects up to 20% of children and 10% of adults worldwide. Due to the high burden of dermatological signs and symptoms, atopic dermatitis has a significant impact on the quality of life of patients and their families. In the absence of objective measures to accurately assess severity and symptom burden, patient-reported outcome measures are essential to monitor the impact and progression of the disease, as well as the efficacy of treatments. Although there are currently no standardised guidelines for their use in clinical practice, there are some initiatives, such as the Harmonise Outcome Measures for Eczema and Vivir con Dermatitis Atópica, that can provide guidance. As healthcare systems move toward value-based healthcare models, patient-reported measures are becoming increasingly important for incorporating the patient perspective and improving the quality of healthcare services. The use of these measures can help monitor disease activity and guide treatment decisions. This article discusses the impact of atopic dermatitis and describes the patient-reported outcome measures commonly used in atopic dermatitis and the recommendations of the initiatives that have selected a core set of measures to best assess atopic dermatitis in clinical practice. Considering the recommendations of these initiatives and based on our experience in clinical practice, we propose the use of the Dermatology Life Quality Index to assess the impact of the disease on quality of life, the Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure to assess symptom severity, and the Numerical Rating Scale or the Visual Analogue Scale to measure itch intensity. To systematise the administration of these measures and to integrate them into hospital information systems and medical records, we emphasise the importance of telemedicine platforms that allow the electronic administration of these instruments.

Patient-reported outcome measures for assessing atopic dermatitis in clinical practice

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin condition that affects up to 20% of children and 10% of adults worldwide. Due to the high burden of dermatological signs and symptoms, atopic dermatitis has a significant impact on the quality of life of patients and their families. In the absence of objective measures to accurately assess severity and symptom burden, patient-reported outcome measures are essential to monitor the impact and progression of the disease, as well as the efficacy of treatments. Although there are currently no standardised guidelines for their use in clinical practice, there are some initiatives, such as the Harmonise Outcome Measures for Eczema and Vivir con Dermatitis Atópica, that can provide guidance. As healthcare systems move towards value-based healthcare models, patient-reported measures are becoming increasingly important for incorporating the patient perspective and improving the quality of healthcare services. The use of these measures can help monitor disease activity and guide treatment decisions. This article discusses the impact of atopic dermatitis and describes the patient-reported outcome measures commonly used in atopic dermatitis and the recommendations of the initiatives that have selected a core set of measures to best assess atopic dermatitis in clinical practice. Considering the recommendations of these initiatives and based on our experience in clinical practice, we propose the use of the Dermatology Life Quality Index to assess the impact of the disease on quality of life, the Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure to assess symptom severity, and the Numerical Rating Scale or the Visual Analogue Scale to measure itch intensity. To systematize the administration of these measures and to integrate them into hospital information systems and medical records, we emphasise the importance of telemedicine platforms that allow the electronic administration of these instruments.

Upadacitinib Rapidly Improves Patient-Reported Outcomes in Atopic Dermatitis: 16-Week Results from Phase 3 Clinical Trials (Measure Up 1 and 2)

INTRODUCTION

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is characterized by intense itch and other symptoms that negatively impact quality of life (QoL). This study evaluates the effect of upadacitinib (an oral selective Janus kinase inhibitor) monotherapy on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) among adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe AD over 16 weeks.

METHODS

This integrated analysis of the double-blind, placebo-controlled periods of phase 3 monotherapy clinical trials Measure Up 1 (NCT03569293) and Measure Up 2 (NCT03607422) assessed itch (Worst Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale [WP-NRS] and SCORing Atopic Dermatitis [SCORAD]), skin pain and symptom severity (AD Symptom Scale), symptom frequency (Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure), sleep (AD Impact Scale [ADerm-IS] and SCORAD), daily activities and emotional state (ADerm-IS), QoL (Dermatology Life Quality Index [DLQI] and Children's DLQI), mental health (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and patient impressions (Patient Global Impression of Severity, Patient Global Impression of Change, and Patient Global Impression of Treatment).

RESULTS

Data from 1683 patients (upadacitinib 15 mg, n = 557; upadacitinib 30 mg, n = 567; placebo, n = 559) were analyzed. A greater proportion of patients receiving upadacitinib versus placebo experienced improvements in itch (≥ 4-point improvement on WP-NRS) by week 1 (upadacitinib 15 mg, 11.2%; upadacitinib 30 mg, 17.7%; placebo, 0.5%; P < 0.001), with response rates sustained through week 16 (upadacitinib 15 mg, 47.1%; upadacitinib 30 mg, 59.8%; placebo, 10.4%; P < 0.001). Improvements were similar for PROs assessing skin pain/symptoms, sleep, daily activities, QoL, emotional state, mental health, and patient impressions of disease severity and treatment. Responses generally improved rapidly (within 1-2 weeks), increased through weeks 4-6, and were maintained through week 16.

CONCLUSIONS

Once-daily oral upadacitinib monotherapy improved response rates across PROs compared with placebo. Upadacitinib therapy resulted in rapid, sustained improvements in PROs measuring symptom burden and QoL in adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe AD.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers, NCT03569293 and NCT03607422.

Early and Sustained Improvements in Symptoms and Quality of Life with Upadacitinib in Adults and Adolescents with Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis: 52-Week Results from Two Phase III Randomized Clinical Trials (Measure Up 1 and Measure Up 2)

BACKGROUND

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by increased itch, skin pain, poor sleep quality, and other symptoms that negatively affect patient quality of life. Upadacitinib, an oral selective Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor with greater inhibitory potency for JAK1 than JAK2, JAK3, or tyrosine kinase 2, is approved to treat moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to evaluate the effect of upadacitinib on patient-reported outcomes over 52 weeks in adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.

METHODS

Data from two phase III monotherapy trials of upadacitinib (Measure Up 1, NCT03569293; Measure Up 2, NCT03607422) were integrated. Changes in pruritus, pain, other skin symptoms, sleep, quality of life, mental health, and patient impression were evaluated. Patient-reported outcome assessments included the Worst Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale, Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure, Dermatology Life Quality Index, Atopic Dermatitis Symptom Scale, Atopic Dermatitis Impact Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, SCORing Atopic Dermatitis index, Patient Global Impression of Severity, Patient Global Impression of Change, and Patient Global Impression of Treatment. Minimal clinically important differences, achievement of scores representing minimal disease burden, and the change from baseline were evaluated in patients who received upadacitinib through week 52 and in patients who received placebo through week 16.

RESULTS

This analysis included 1609 patients (upadacitinib 15 mg, N = 557; upadacitinib 30 mg, N = 567; placebo, N = 485). Baseline demographics and disease characteristics were generally similar across all arms. The proportion of patients treated with upadacitinib reporting improvements in itch increased rapidly by week 1, increased steadily through week 8, and was sustained through week 52. Patients receiving upadacitinib also experienced improvements in pain and other skin symptoms by week 1, which continued through week 16; improvements were maintained through week 52. Patient reports of improved sleep increased rapidly from baseline to week 1, increased steadily through week 32, and were sustained through week 52. Patients experienced quality-of-life improvements through week 8, which were maintained through week 52. By week 1, patients in both upadacitinib groups experienced rapid improvements in emotional state, and by week 12, patients also achieved meaningful improvements in anxiety and depression. Improvements in mental health continued steadily through week 32 and were maintained through week 52. Patients treated with upadacitinib 30 mg generally experienced improvements in patient-reported outcomes earlier than those treated with upadacitinib 15 mg. Through week 16, patients receiving upadacitinib experienced greater improvements versus those receiving placebo in all assessed patient-reported outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis treated with once-daily upadacitinib 15 or 30 mg experienced early improvements in itch, pain, other skin symptoms, sleep, quality of life, and mental health that were sustained through week 52.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers NCT03569293 (13 August 2018) and NCT03607422 (27 July 2018).

Safety, Efficacy and Attributes of 2.5% Selenium Sulfide Shampoo in the Treatment of Dandruff: A Single-Center Study

BACKGROUND

Selenium sulfide, available as a shampoo or topical lotion at 1%, or 2.5% concentrations in India, is used as a topical antiseborrheic and antifungal for the treatment of dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, and tinea versicolor. In the present study, the safety, efficacy, and attributes of 2.5% selenium sulfide shampoo were evaluated in Indian participants with dandruff.

METHODS

A single-center, single-arm, prospective, investigator-initiated, open-label, post-marketing interventional study was conducted on Indian subjects aged 18-70 years diagnosed with moderate dandruff who were prescribed 2.5% selenium sulfide shampoo every three days for four weeks. The primary endpoints were 1) reduction in total dandruff score assessed using a clinical grading scale for adherent and loose dandruff from baseline to weeks 1, 2, and 4, and 2) incidence of adverse events up to the end of the study. The key secondary endpoints were 1) participants' perception of shampoo attributes (dandruff reduction, scalp itch, scalp oiliness/greasiness, or fragrance) as assessed by a subjective self-assessment questionnaire post-first wash and at weeks 1, 2, and/or 4; 2) satisfaction with treatment as assessed by investigators and participants using a subjective self-assessment questionnaire at week 4; and 3) reduction in scalp sebum as assessed with a meibometer at weeks 2 and 4. Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for continuous variables and the Chi-square test for categorical variables. A p-value of 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

RESULTS

Of 34 enrolled subjects, 30 completed the four-week study. The mean (standard deviation, SD) age of the study participants was 29.8 (7.87) years, with the majority being females (n=18; 60.0%). Mean (SD) total dandruff score significantly (p=0.001) reduced from a baseline score of 11.5 (2.15) to 7.17 (2.12) at week 1, 4.93 (1.72) at week 2, and 2.5 (1.17) at week 4. All the participants reported dandruff reduction and acceptable fragrance of the shampoo at four weeks. Absence of itching and reduction in oiliness was reported by 73.3% (n=22) of participants at week 4 and by 50.0% (n=15) of participants at week 2, respectively. All participants reported good, very good, or excellent satisfaction with the test shampoo at week 4, whereas the investigators rated the shampoo as very good or excellent in managing dandruff in all participants. At week 4, erythema was reported to be absent in all participants. No adverse events were reported during the study.

CONCLUSIONS

The 2.5% selenium sulfide shampoo was found to be effective in the management of dandruff and related symptoms like itching, oiliness, and greasiness and had a good safety profile in Indian participants with dandruff.

Spesolimab improves patient-reported outcomes in patients with generalized pustular psoriasis: Results from the Effisayil 1 study

BACKGROUND

Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare inflammatory skin disease with a considerable clinical burden. In the Effisayil™ 1 study, spesolimab, an anti-interleukin-36 receptor monoclonal antibody, demonstrated efficacy in treating GPP flares.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of patients with GPP who were treated with intravenous (IV) spesolimab 900 mg in the Effisayil™ 1 study.

METHODS

Fifty-three patients presenting with a GPP flare were randomized (2:1) to receive a single dose of IV spesolimab 900 mg or placebo and were followed for 12 weeks. Four PROs (pain visual analogue scale [pain VAS]; Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue [FACIT-Fatigue]; Dermatology Life Quality Index [DLQI]; and Psoriasis Symptom Scale [PSS]) were assessed throughout the 12-week study. Minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) were defined. All data are reported descriptively.

RESULTS

In patients who received spesolimab, improvements from baseline (median [Q1, Q3]) were observed in pain VAS (-21.3 [-55.3, -3.1]), FACIT-Fatigue (7.0 [1.0, 20.0]), DLQI (-2.5 [-8.0, 1.0]) and PSS (-4.0 [-7.0, 0.0]) within 1 week of treatment. These improvements were sustained over 12 weeks and corresponded to the achievement of MCIDs at Week 1, which were also sustained over 12 weeks. Patients in the placebo arm experienced improvements in PROs and achievement of MCIDs after receipt of open-label spesolimab at Week 1.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with a GPP flare treated with spesolimab achieved improvements in PROs by Week 1, which were sustained for 12 weeks, and achieved MCIDs as early as Week 1.

Itching in Atopic Dermatitis: Patient- and Physician-reported Outcomes in the German Atopic Dermatitis Registry TREATgermany

TREATgermany is an investigator-initiated prospective disease registry. It investigates physician- and patient-reported disease severity (Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), objective Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (oSCORAD), Investigator Global Assessment, Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM), Patient Global Assessment (PGA)), patient-reported symptoms (itch, sleep loss, depressive symptoms), therapy courses and dermatological quality of life (DLQI) in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis with SCORAD > 20. 1,134 atopic dermatitis patients (mean age 41.0 ± 14.7 years, 42.5% females) were enrolled by 40 German recruiting sites (dermatological clinics and practices) between June 2016 and April 2021. The current analysis focuses on itch scores obtained with a numerical rating scale (NRS)) documented for the previous 3 days prior to baseline visit. The results show that 97.2% (1,090 of 1,121) patients experienced itch. Itch severity correlated moderately with severity of atopic dermatitis oSCORAD (rho = 0.44 (0.39-0.48)) and EASI score (rho = 0.41 (0.36-0.46)). A strong correlation was found with self-reported disease severity as PGA (rho = 0.68 (0.65-0.71)), POEM sum score (rho = 0.66 (0.63-0.69)) and dermatological quality of life impairment DLQI (rho = 0.61 (0.57-0.65)). Itch as a subjective complaint is more closely correlated with patient-reported outcomes than with objective assessments by the physician.

Use of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Acne Vulgaris and Rosacea Clinical Trials From 2011 to 2021: A Systematic Review

Importance

Acne and rosacea have substantial implications for quality of life, and it is therefore important to ensure the patient's voice is being captured in pivotal randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Although patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are a valuable tool to capture the patient perspective, little is known about use of PROMs in RCTs on acne and rosacea.

Objective

To characterize the use of PROMs in RCTs on acne and rosacea.

Evidence Review

A systematic literature search was conducted using the search terms acne vulgaris and rosacea in the following databases: MEDLINE through PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. A modified search hedge for RCTs from the McGill Library was applied. All phase 2, 3, and 4 RCTs published between December 31, 2011, through December 31, 2021, that evaluated the efficacy and safety of therapies for acne and rosacea vs any comparator were eligible for inclusion.

Findings

A total of 2461 publications describing RCTs were identified, of which 206 RCTs met the inclusion criteria (163 trials [79%] on acne and 43 [21%] on rosacea). At least 1 PROM was used in 53% of trials (110) included; PROM use was more common in rosacea RCTs (67% [n = 29]) compared with acne RCTs (50% [n = 81]). At least 1 dermatology-specific (13% [n = 27]) or disease-specific (14% [n = 28]) PROM was included in the RCTs analyzed. Only 7% of trials (14) included a PROM as a primary outcome measure. There was no statistically significant increase in PROM inclusion over the study period (11 of 21 trials in 2011 vs 5 of 12 trials in 2021).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this systematic review, PROMs were included in approximately one-half of acne and rosacea RCTs performed over the study period. In addition, PROMs were rarely used as a primary outcome measure, and inclusion of PROMs has not increased substantially over the past 10 years. Increasing use of PROMs in RCTs can ensure that the patient's perspective is captured during the development of new treatments for acne and rosacea.

Expanding Personalized, Data-Driven Dermatology: Leveraging Digital Health Technology and Machine Learning to Improve Patient Outcomes

The current revolution of digital health technology and machine learning offers enormous potential to improve patient care. Nevertheless, it is essential to recognize that dermatology requires an approach different from those of other specialties. For many dermatological conditions, there is a lack of standardized methodology for quantitatively tracking disease progression and treatment response (clinimetrics). Furthermore, dermatological diseases impact patients in complex ways, some of which can be measured only through patient reports (psychometrics). New tools using digital health technology (e.g., smartphone applications, wearable devices) can aid in capturing both clinimetric and psychometric variables over time. With these data, machine learning can inform efforts to improve health care by, for example, the identification of high-risk patient groups, optimization of treatment strategies, and prediction of disease outcomes. We use the term personalized, data-driven dermatology to refer to the use of comprehensive data to inform individual patient care and improve patient outcomes. In this paper, we provide a framework that includes data from multiple sources, leverages digital health technology, and uses machine learning. Although this framework is applicable broadly to dermatological conditions, we use the example of a serious inflammatory skin condition, chronic cutaneous graft-versus-host disease, to illustrate personalized, data-driven dermatology.

Self-Reported Hidradenitis Suppurativa Severity: Is It Useful for Clinical Practice?

Introduction

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is considered to be the most burdensome dermatosis, with a well-documented negative influence on quality of life (QoL). The patient’s perception of the disorder, assessed as the self-reported severity, has been used in other dermatoses but not in HS. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of self-reported HS severity in clinical practice.

Methods

The study was performed on a group of 130 Spanish HS patients. HS severity was assessed for all the subjects. Hurley staging and patient self-reported severity were used. Moreover, QoL impairment was evaluated using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Quality of Life 24 (HSQoL-24) questionnaire.

Results

The severity of HS according to the Hurley staging was most commonly assessed as Hurley II (47.7%), indicating moderate disease, followed by severe disease (Hurley III, 26.9%) and mild disease (Hurley I, 25.4%). According to the patient self-reported HS severity, most of the patients reported having mild disease (76 patients, 58.5%), followed by moderate disease (31 patients, 23.8%). Only 23 patients (17.7%) assessed their disease as severe. Moreover, men reported mild disease significantly more frequently than women (70.9% and 49.3%, respectively; p = 0.014).

The self-reported HS severity correlated positively with the effect of the disease on patient QoL assessed with DLQI (r = 0.288, p < 0.001). Likewise, a strong positive correlation was found between self-reported HS severity and QoL impairment assessed with HSQoL-24 (r = 0.404, p = 0.001). No statistically significant correlation between Hurley severity stage and DLQI or HSQoL-24 was found. Moreover, there were significant differences in both DLQI and HSQoL-24 total score between different self-reported HS severities. This was not seen for any of the QoL instruments or for Hurley severity staging.

Conclusion

The results show that self-assessment severity may reflect patients’ subjective feelings more adequately than popular objective instruments, and there should be a place for its use in daily clinical practice.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13555-022-00701-5.

Impact of Oral Abrocitinib Monotherapy on Patient-Reported Symptoms and Quality of Life in Adolescents and Adults with Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis: A Pooled Analysis of Patient-Reported Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Atopic dermatitis imparts a substantial patient burden, including itch, sleep disturbance, and decreased health-related quality of life.

OBJECTIVE

This analysis evaluated changes in patient-reported outcomes of disease-specific signs/symptoms and health-related quality of life in adult and adolescent patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis treated with once-daily oral abrocitinib 200-mg or 100-mg monotherapy.

METHODS

Pooled data from one phase IIb (NCT02780167) and two phase III (NCT03349060, JADE MONO-1; NCT03575871, JADE MONO-2) monotherapy trials in adult and adolescent patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis were analyzed. Patient-reported outcome assessments included: global severity, itch, and multi-item measures that assess other signs and symptoms of atopic dermatitis. Additional patient-reported outcome assessments measured depression, anxiety, fatigue, disease-specific and general health-related quality of life, and work and general productivity among employed patients.

RESULTS

Overall, 942 patients were included in this analysis. Improvements were observed from the first post-baseline assessment to week 12 across all patient-reported outcomes, including Patient Global Assessment (PtGA) score of 0/1 (35.5%, 19.8%, and 5.9% for 200 mg, 100 mg, and placebo, respectively), ≥ 4-point improvement in Night Time Itch Scale (NTIS; 57.0%, 42.7%, and 12.7%), change from baseline in Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) score (- 11.4, - 8.2, and - 3.4), 1-point improvement in Pruritus and Symptoms Assessment for Atopic Dermatitis (PSAAD; 75.2%, 65.1%, and 33.5%), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales (HADS) anxiety (- 2.0, - 1.7, and - 1.0) and depression (- 1.7, - 1.3, and - 0.1).

CONCLUSIONS

Abrocitinib monotherapy improved disease-specific signs/symptoms and health-related quality of life across multiple domains as reported by adult and adolescent patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, complementing clinician-reported efficacy and safety outcomes.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT02780167 (registered 23 May, 2016), NCT03349060 (registered 21 November, 2017), NCT03575871 (registered 3 July, 2018).

Patient-Reported Symptoms and Disease Impacts in Adults With Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis: Results From a Phase 2b Study With Abrocitinib

BACKGROUND

Moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) is inadequately controlled with current treatments for many patients. Abrocitinib is an oral Janus kinase 1 selective inhibitor under investigation for the treatment of AD.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to evaluate patient-reported outcomes in a phase 2b study of abrocitinib in adults with moderate-to-severe AD inadequately controlled by topical therapy (NCT02780167).

METHODS

Patients (N = 267) were randomly assigned 1:1:1:1:1 to 12-week, once-daily abrocitinib (200, 100, 30, 10 mg) or placebo. Patient-reported outcomes included pruritus numeric rating scale (average), Patient Global Assessment, Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure, Pruritus and Symptoms Assessment for AD, Dermatology Life Quality Index, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

RESULTS

Abrocitinib 200 or 100 mg resulted in significantly greater improvements from baseline versus placebo in peak pruritus numeric rating scale (by days 2 and 3, respectively), Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure, Pruritus and Symptoms Assessment for AD, Dermatology Life Quality Index, and HADS (200 mg only, by week 1 or 2), and proportions of the patients with Patient Global Assessment clear/almost clear with 2-point or greater improvement (by weeks 1 and 4, respectively) that continued through week 12 (except HADS).

CONCLUSIONS

Abrocitinib treatment resulted in rapid (2 days to 2 weeks) and persistent improvements in AD symptoms and impacts in moderate-to-severe disease.

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Atopic Dermatitis and Chronic Hand Eczema in Adults

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) provide an important complement to physician-assessed clinical outcome measures in dermatologic diseases such as atopic dermatitis (AD) and chronic hand eczema (CHE). AD and CHE are chronic and relapsing inflammatory skin conditions that often co-occur. While both diseases result in various signs and symptoms that are burdensome and can negatively affect patients’ lives, there may be distinct differences in the signs, symptoms, burden, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) impact of these diseases. The objective of this study was to identify and evaluate PROMs used in studies of AD and CHE. The aim was to explore the assessment of key symptoms and impacts, and identify any gaps in the measures in use. A structured review of the PubMed database was conducted to identify PROMs used or developed for use in AD or CHE. The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), the Pruritus/Itch Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), the Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM), and the Quality of Life in Hand Eczema Questionnaire (QOLHEQ) were identified and reviewed in detail. With these measures, the AD and CHE symptoms and impacts most commonly evaluated in the literature include dermatology-related HRQOL in the domains of symptoms and feelings, daily activities, leisure, work and school, personal relationships, and adverse effects; pruritus; sleep disturbance; AD-specific symptoms (dryness, itching, flaking, cracking, bleeding, and weeping/oozing); and CHE-specific symptoms (pain, itch, fissuring, redness, bleeding, and dryness). A review of regulatory labels of drugs approved for AD by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) found that, among the four measures reviewed, the Pruritus NRS was included in the FDA and EMA labels for dupilumab, the DLQI was included in the EMA labels for dupilumab and tacrolimus, and the POEM was included in the EMA label for dupilumab. Key symptoms of AD (e.g. itching, flaking, cracking) and CHE (e.g. pain, itching, fissuring) are increasingly being assessed with PROMs; however, primary endpoints in clinical trials are often based on clinician-reported outcome measures. As therapeutic strategies in dermatology are targeted at specific dermatologic symptoms and diseases affecting specific sites (e.g. CHE), future research should explore patients’ experiences with these symptoms and sites and the changes with treatment that are most meaningful to them.

"Keep it simple": Perspectives of patients with low back pain on how to qualify a patient-centred consultation using patient-reported outcomes

BACKGROUND

Patient-reported outcomes are expected to play an important role in patient-centred health care. To capture patients' perspectives, patient involvement in the development of patient-reported outcome (PRO) instruments is essential, but often lacking. This qualitative study explored the perspectives of patients with low back pain, to gain an understanding of how to qualify a patient-centred consultation by using PROs. This was done by exploring patients' perspectives regarding the assessment of functioning and disability as part of the development of a new PRO instrument based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Core Set.

METHODS

Semi-structured focus group interviews with seven patients with low back pain were conducted. Data were analysed by drawing on the Interpretive Description methodology.

RESULTS

The analysis revealed three core themes: simplicity, individuality and application. Simplicity represented keeping items to a minimum and avoiding overlaps; individuality implied the need for individualized answers; and application signified that PROs should be utilized during the consultation, and that they can provide useful information for clinical decision-making.

CONCLUSIONS

The study provides essential knowledge about elements of importance to patients with low back pain when aiming for a patient-centred consultation using PROs. Furthermore, it underlines the importance of involving patients in PRO development because their perspectives improved the new PRO instrument.

Patient-reported outcomes in lasers and light therapy

As the prevalence of lasers and light devices to treat dermatologic conditions increases, patient reported outcomes (PROs) will be an essential component of evaluating clinical efficacy and patient satisfaction. PROs may be used to identify patients' values, weigh risks and benefits of various therapies, identify barriers to treatment and help guide the development of new therapies. Utilizing patient and physician assessments may help determine if a new treatment is objectively better than currently available therapies. In creating a patient-centered treatment plan using laser and light modalities, it is critical to evaluate side effects using PROs. Determining and resolving barriers to treatment has benefits at the individual level and the population level. Many PRO measures (PROMs) are available to use for general and specific dermatologic conditions. The Dermatologic Life Quality Index, Skindex, and FACE-Q are PROMs that have been used in laser and light therapy studies. Selecting the proper instrument should be based on study aims to yield high quality data. Herein, we assess PROs use in laser and light treatment protocols to improve patient care, increase patient satisfaction and reduce barriers to care, and review dermatology PRO measures (PROMs) used in published laser and light clinical studies.

Severity strata for five patient-reported outcomes in adults with atopic dermatitis

BACKGROUND

Several patient-reported outcomes have been used to assess the burden of atopic dermatitis (AD). Some are disease specific, such as the Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM), while others pertain to itch, for example the numerical rating scale (NRS)-itch, ItchyQoL and 5-D itch, or dermatological disease in general, for example the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Development of severity strata is essential for proper interpretability of these assessments.

OBJECTIVES

To confirm previously developed strata for POEM, DLQI and raw ItchyQoL, and develop strata for the NRS-itch, mean ItchyQoL and 5-D itch scale for use in adults with AD.

METHODS

Self-administered questionnaires were completed by 210 adults with AD in a dermatology practice setting. Strata were selected using an anchoring approach based on patient-reported disease severity.

RESULTS

We confirmed the existing strata for POEM (mild 0-7, moderate 8-16, severe 17-28; κ = 0·440), DLQI (mild 0-5, moderate 6-10, severe 11-30; κ = 0·398) and NRS-itch (mild 0-3, moderate 4-6, severe 7-10; κ = 0·499). However, the preferred band for raw ItchyQoL was mild 22-58, moderate 59-74 and severe 75-110 (κ = 0·379) and for mean ItchyQoL, mild 1-2·9, moderate 3·0-3·9, severe 4·0-5·0 (κ = 0·374). The preferred band for 5-D itch scale was mild 0-11, moderate 12-17 and severe 18-25 (κ = 0·331).

CONCLUSIONS

Existing strata for POEM and DLQI performed well in adult AD. Previously reported strata for visual analogue scale-itch performed best for NRS-itch. We identified banding for the raw ItchyQoL for our AD population that varies slightly from the banding published for a more heterogeneous population. Finally, we proposed strata for mean ItchyQoL and 5-D itch scale in adult AD.