Product of Investigator Global Assessment and Body Surface Area (IGAxBSA): A practice-friendly alternative to the Eczema Area and Severity Index to assess atopic dermatitis severity in children

The Eczema Area and Severity Index: An update of progress and challenges in its measurement of atopic dermatitis after 20 years of use

The Eczema Area and Severity Index is an investigator-assessed instrument reporting clinical signs of atopic dermatitis. The instrument is extensively validated in both adult and paediatric populations and recommended as a core outcome measure to assess clinical signs by the Harmonising Outcome Measures for Eczema initiative in clinical trials and was recently recommended as an option to measure signs in clinical practice. Here, we review the validation of the instrument using standard assessment criteria, explore controversies and challenges to its universal applicability and highlight future electronic adaptations. We find that the instrument demonstrates adequate performance in the measurement properties recommended by the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments initiative for instruments reporting clinical signs, is clinically interpretable, and is suitable for all atopic dermatitis severities. Some validation gaps remain. Information reporting on its performance in diverse populations, with emphasis on deeply pigmented skin, is promising though limited. Technological adaptations are demonstrating promising initial validation results and may facilitate remote and/or automated assessments assisting clinical care and decentralized clinical trials in the future. We find no strong evidence limiting its use in trials or clinical practice although questions pertaining to the effect of investigator training remain. We recommend that the Eczema Area and Severity Index be used in all interventional atopic dermatitis trials and be considered alongside other recommended clinical practice severity instruments.

Measuring Signs of Atopic Dermatitis in Clinical Practice: A HOME-CP Consensus Statement

Importance

Outcome measurement is an essential component of value-based health care and can aid patient care, quality improvement, and clinical effectiveness evidence generation. The Harmonising Outcome Measures for Eczema Clinical Practice initiative aims to identify a list of validated, feasible, outcome measurement instruments recommended to measure atopic dermatitis (AD) in the clinical practice setting. The clinical practice set is a list of instruments that clinicians can pick and choose from to suit their needs in the context of clinical care.

Objective

To recommend instruments to measure clinical signs of AD in clinical practice.

Evidence Review

Following the predefined roadmap, a mixed methods design was implemented and incorporated systematic reviews and qualitative consensus methods. Previous systematic reviews identified few clinical signs instruments with sufficient validation for recommendation. An updated systematic review evaluating the validity of clinical signs instruments informed an international meeting to reach consensus on recommended instruments to measure AD clinical signs in clinical practice. Consensus was defined as less than 30% disagreement. An in-person consensus exercise was held in Montreal, Canada, on October 16, 2022. The 34 attendees included patient and patient advocate research partners, health care professionals, researchers, methodologists, and industry representatives.

Findings

The updated systematic review found that the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), Scoring Atopic Dermatitis, and objective Scoring Atopic Dermatitis were the only instruments that demonstrated sufficient performance in all assessed measurement properties. The modified EASI and Signs Global Assessment × Body Surface Area instruments were also recommended. The EASI, Validated Investigator Global Assessment, and Investigator's Global Assessment multiplied by or measured concurrently with a body surface area measure achieved consensus in criteria and were adopted.

Conclusions and Relevance

This consensus statement by the Harmonising Outcome Measures for Eczema initiative suggests that when assessing and documenting clinical signs of AD, there are several valid and feasible instruments that can best fit a clinician's specific practice needs. These instruments should improve and standardize the documentation of signs severity, help determine the effect of treatment, facilitate the generation of clinical effectiveness evidence, and enhance the implementation of value-based health care.

Validation of IGA*BSA in Assessing Disease Severity and Response in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis: A Retrospective Cohort Study in China

Background: Accurate evaluation of atopic dermatitis (AD) severity is crucial to determine and adjust treatment options. Previous studies have found the product of Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) and affected body surface area (BSA) to be a simple tool, which requires further verification. Objective: To determine the validity of IGA*BSA in assessing the severity of AD across all age, sex, BMI and disease severity groups. Method: We performed a retrospective study of AD using data from a national cohort (China Type II Inflammatory Skin Disease Clinical Research and Standardized Diagnosis and Treatment Project). Results: Overall, 3051 participants were included in the final analysis. IGA*BSA correlated better with objective measures than with subjective measures. IGA*BSA significantly correlated with Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) (r = 0.81), which was stronger than either IGA or BSA alone with EASI, regardless of age, sex, Body Mass Index (BMI), and disease severity groups. Besides, IGA*BSA mild, moderate, and severe groups were associated with significantly higher scores of other assessments and had moderate to fair concordance with other assessments severity strata. At follow-up, the concordance of improvement between IGA*BSA 50/75/90 and EASI 50/75/90 was observed (ĸ = 0.65, 0.62, 0.58, respectively). Conclusion: IGA*BSA appears to be a valid objective assessment of AD severity and improvement over time across all age, sex, BMI, and disease severity subgroups in the clinical practice.

Development and validation of the Dermatology Social Comparison (DSC) Scale

BACKGROUND

Social comparison, the process of evaluating one's characteristics in relation to others, influences individuals' self-perception and behavior. However, instruments are scarce for assessing social comparison in the medical setting.

OBJECTIVES

Our aim was to develop and validate a new scale for assessing social comparison.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seven statements were developed, encompassing the perceived normality of having rashes, the tendency to compare their situation with others, and the emotional response when seeing someone better or worse off than themselves. The instrument was piloted in 15 patients for readability and face validity, then prospectively validated using modern psychometric methods in 1,053 adult patients with eczema or psoriasis from three tertiary dermatological centers in Singapore.

RESULTS

Of 1,053 adult patients, 802 (76.2%) had eczema, and 251 (23.8%) had psoriasis. Exploratory factor analysis (using a 70% sample split) showed a single factor model comprising three questions (Eigenvalue: 1.4). Confirmatory factor analysis with the remaining 30% of the sample confirmed an excellent model fit. Cronbach's alpha was 0.7, and inter-item correlations ranged from 0.42 to 0.46. In the Rasch analysis, item fit statistics and item characteristic curves showed appropriate discrimination between response options, although reliability was suboptimal with a person separation reliability of 0.63.

CONCLUSIONS

Comprising 3 questions, the newly derived social comparison scale showed acceptable psychometrics as a measure of social comparison for clinical and research purposes in dermatology. Its brief nature likely results from its brevity and applicability to conditions beyond eczema and psoriasis, which warrants further investigation.

Which Clinical Measurement Tools for Atopic Dermatitis Severity Make the Most Sense in Clinical Practice?

Assessment of atopic dermatitis (AD) severity is essential for therapeutic decision making and monitoring treatment progress. However, there are a myriad of clinical measurement tools available, some of which are impractical for routine clinical use despite being recommended for clinical trials in AD. For measurement tools to be used in clinical practice, they should be valid, reliable, rapidly completed, and scored, and easily incorporated into existing clinic workflows. This narrative review addresses content, validity, and feasibility, and provides a simplified repertoire of assessments for clinical assessment of AD based on prior evidence and expert opinion. Tools that may be feasible for clinical practice include patient-reported outcomes (eg, dermatology life quality index, patient-oriented eczema measure, numerical rating scales for itch, pain, and sleep disturbance, AD Control Tool, and patient-reported global assessment), and clinician-reported outcomes (eg, body surface area and investigator's global assessment). AD is associated with variable clinical signs, symptoms, extent of lesions, longitudinal course, comorbidities, and impacts. Any single domain is insufficient to holistically characterize AD severity, select therapy, or monitor treatment response. A combination of these tools is recommended to balance completeness and feasibility.

Treat-to-target in dermatology: A scoping review and International Eczema Council survey on the approach in atopic dermatitis

Treat-to-target (T2T) is a pragmatic therapeutic strategy being gradually introduced into dermatology after adoption in several other clinical areas. Atopic dermatitis (AD), one of the most common inflammatory skin diseases, may also benefit from this structured and practical therapeutic approach. We aimed to evaluate existing data regarding the T2T approach in dermatology, with a specific focus on AD, as well as the views of International Eczema Council (IEC) members on the potential application of a T2T approach to AD management. To do so, we systematically searched for peer-reviewed publications on the T2T approach for any skin disease in the PubMed and Scopus databases up to February 2022 and conducted a survey among IEC members regarding various components to potentially include in a T2T approach in AD. We identified 21 relevant T2T-related reports in dermatology, of which 14 were related to psoriasis, five to AD, one for juvenile dermatomyositis and one for urticaria. In the IEC member survey, respondents proposed treatable traits (with itch, disease severity and sleep problems getting the highest scores), relevant comorbidities (with asthma being selected most commonly, followed by anxiety and depression in adults), recommended specialists that should define the approach in AD (dermatologists, allergists and primary care physicians were most commonly selected in adults), and applicable assessment tools (both physician- and patient-reported), in both adult and paediatric patients, for potential future utilization of the T2T approach in AD. In conclusion, while the T2T approach may become a useful tool to simplify therapeutic goals and AD management, its foundation in AD is only starting to build. A multidisciplinary approach, including a wide range of stakeholders, including patients, is needed to further define the essential components needed to utilize T2T in AD.

Understanding Discordant Perceptions of Disease Severity Between Physicians and Patients With Eczema and Psoriasis Using Structural Equation Modeling

Importance

Patients and physicians often have differing opinions on the patient's disease severity. This phenomenon, termed discordant severity grading (DSG), hinders the patient-physician relationship and is a source of frustration.

Objective

To test and validate a model explaining the cognitive, behavioral, and disease factors associated with DSG.

Design, Setting, and Participants

A qualitative study was first performed to derive a theoretical model. In this subsequent prospective cross-sectional quantitative study, the qualitatively derived theoretical model was validated using structural equation modeling (SEM). Recruitment was conducted between October 2021 and September 2022. This was a multicenter study in 3 Singapore outpatient tertiary dermatological centers. Dermatology patients and their attending physicians were recruited by convenience sampling. Patients were aged 18 to 99 years with psoriasis or eczema of at least 3 months' duration and recruited only once. The data were analyzed between October 2022 to May 2023.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The outcome was the difference between global disease severity (0-10 numerical rating scale with a higher score indicating greater severity) as independently scored by the patient and the dermatologist. Positive discordance was defined as patient-graded severity more than 2 points higher (graded more severely) than physicians, and negative discordance if more than 2 points lower than physicians. Confirmatory factor analysis followed by SEM was used to assess the associations between preidentified patient, physician, and disease factors with the difference in severity grading.

Results

Of the 1053 patients (mean [SD] age, 43.5 [17.5] years), a total of 579 (55.0%) patients were male, 802 (76.2%) had eczema, and 251 (23.8%) had psoriasis. Of 44 physicians recruited, 20 (45.5%) were male, 24 (54.5%) were aged between 31 and 40 years, 20 were senior residents or fellows, and 14 were consultants or attending physicians. The median (IQR) number of patients recruited per physician was 5 (2-18) patients. Of 1053 patient-physician pairs, 487 pairs (46.3%) demonstrated discordance (positive, 447 [42.4%]; negative, 40 [3.8%]). Agreement between patient and physician rating was poor (intraclass correlation, 0.27). The SEM analyses showed that positive discordance was associated with higher symptom expression (standardized coefficient B = 0.12; P = .02) and greater quality-of-life impairment (B = 0.31; P < .001), but not patient or physician demographics. A higher quality-of-life impairment was in turn associated with lower resilience and stability (B = -0.23; P < .001), increased negative social comparisons (B = 0.45; P < .001), lower self-efficacy (B = -0.11; P = .02), increased disease cyclicity (B = 0.47; P < .001), and greater expectation of chronicity (B = 0.18; P < .001). The model was well-fitted (Tucker-Lewis: 0.94; Root Mean Square Error of Approximation: 0.034).

Conclusions and Relevance

This cross-sectional study identified various modifiable contributory factors to DSG, increased understanding of the phenomenon, and set a framework for targeted interventions to bridge this discordance.

Patient-reported outcomes for measuring sleep disturbance in pediatric atopic dermatitis: Cross-sectional study of the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System pediatric sleep measures and actigraphy

BACKGROUND

Most children with atopic dermatitis (AD) experience sleep disturbance, but reliable and valid assessment tools are lacking.

OBJECTIVES

To test the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) sleep measures in pediatric AD and to develop an algorithm to screen, assess, and intervene to reduce sleep disturbance.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted with children with AD ages 5 to 17 years and 1 parent (n = 61), who completed sleep, itch, and AD-specific questionnaires; clinicians assessed disease severity. All children wore actigraphy watches for a 1-week objective sleep assessment.

RESULTS

PROMIS sleep disturbance parent proxy reliability was high (Cronbach α = 0.90) and was differentiated among Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM)-determined disease severity groups (mean ± standard deviation in mild vs moderate vs severe was 55.7 ± 7.5 vs 59.8 ± 10.8 vs 67.1 ± 9.5; P < .01). Sleep disturbance correlated with itch (numeric rating scale, r = 0.48), PROMIS sleep-related impairment (r = 0.57), and worsened quality of life (Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index, r = 0.58), with all P values less than .01. Positive report on the POEM sleep disturbance question has high sensitivity (95%) for PROMIS parent proxy-reported sleep disturbance (T-score ≥ 60). An algorithm for screening and intervening on sleep disturbance was proposed.

LIMITATIONS

This was a local sample.

CONCLUSIONS

Sleep disturbance in pediatric AD should be screened using the POEM sleep question, with further assessment using the PROMIS sleep disturbance measure or objective sleep monitoring if needed.

The Validated Investigator Global Assessment for Atopic Dermatitis (vIGA-AD™): a clinical outcome measure for the severity of atopic dermatitis

BACKGROUND

The validated Investigator Global Assessment for Atopic Dermatitis (vIGA-AD™) is a standardized severity assessment for use in clinical trials and registries for atopic dermatitis (AD).

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the reliability, validity, responsiveness and within-patient meaningful change of the vIGA-AD.

METHODS

Data were analysed from adult patients with moderate-to-severe AD in the BREEZE-AD1 (N = 624 patients; NCT03334396), BREEZE-AD2 (N = 615; NCT03334422) and BREEZE-AD5 (N = 440; NCT03435081) phase III baricitinib clinical studies.

RESULTS

Across studies, test-retest reliability for stable patients showed moderate-to-good agreement [range of Kappa values for Patient Global Impression of Severity-Atopic Dermatitis (PGI-S-AD), 0·516-0·639; for Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), 0·658-0·778]. Moderate-to-large correlations between vIGA-AD and EASI or body surface area (range at baseline, 0·497-0·736; Week 16, 0·716-0·893) supported convergent validity. Known-groups validity was demonstrated vs. EASI and PGI-S-AD (vIGA-AD for severe vs. moderate EASI categories at baseline, P < 0·001). Responsiveness was demonstrated vs. EASI (P < 0·001 for much improved vs. improved and improved vs. stable). Anchor- and distribution-based methods supported a vIGA-AD change of -1·0 as clinically meaningful. These findings are limited to populations defined by the studies' inclusion and exclusion criteria.

CONCLUSIONS

The vIGA-AD demonstrated sufficient reliability, validity, responsiveness and interpretation standards for use in clinical trials. What is already known about this topic? A description of the development of the validated Investigator Global Assessment for Atopic Dermatitis (vIGA-AD™) has been published previously. What does this study add? The current study validates the vIGA-AD by demonstrating appropriate test-retest reliability, convergent validity, known-groups validity and responsiveness across three baricitinib clinical studies. In addition, a 1-point change was identified as a clinically meaningful patient-perceived change minimal clinically important difference in the vIGA-AD. What are the clinical implications of the work? The vIGA-AD is a measure for investigator assessment of atopic dermatitis suitable for use in clinical research.

Optimizing topical management of atopic dermatitis

OBJECTIVE

Provide a review of atopic dermatitis management, focusing on optimizing topical therapy, creating a stepwise approach for treatment plans, and providing guidance on when to start systemic therapy.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed search of articles in the English language regarding atopic dermatitis in all ages.

STUDY SELECTION

Articles on the subject matter were selected and reviewed.

RESULTS

Topical corticosteroids are the first-line treatment for managing atopic dermatitis. Topical nonsteroidal agents, calcineurin inhibitors, crisaborole, and recently, ruxolitinib, which cause no cutaneous atrophy, are options for reducing the use of topical corticosteroids, including on sensitive sites. Emerging topical agents are in clinical trials. Proactive management, with continued application 2 to 3 times weekly of a midpotency topical corticosteroid or tacrolimus, may maintain control for clear (or almost clear) localized sites of dermatitis that rapidly recur when topical anti-inflammatory medication is stopped. If topical therapy alone cannot control disease and quality of life is impacted, reevaluation to confirm the diagnosis, manage comorbid conditions, address compliance and patient-specific concerns, and optimize topical therapy must be undertaken before deciding to advance to systemic medication. Dupilumab, an interleukin-4 receptor inhibitor, has become first-line systemic therapy given its efficacy and safety, allowing long-term treatment without laboratory monitoring. Other biologics and Janus kinase inhibitors are emerging as alternatives that could eliminate the need for immunosuppressants with their higher risks.

CONCLUSION

Several options are now available for topical treatment. A stepwise approach is needed to consider alternative therapies and diagnoses before advancing to systemic treatment, but the safety of newer immunomodulators will lower the threshold for more aggressive intervention.

Differences in Psychometric Properties of Clinician- and Patient-Reported Outcome Measures for Atopic Dermatitis by Race and Skin Tone: A Systematic Review

The psychometric validity and reliability of widely used atopic dermatitis (AD) outcome measures across different races and ethnicities are unclear. We describe the rates of reporting race, ethnicity, and skin tone in studies testing the psychometric properties of AD outcome measures and compare the psychometric analyses across race, ethnicity, and skin tone. We systematically reviewed MEDLINE and EMBASE for studies reporting psychometric properties of clinician-reported or patient-reported outcome measures in AD (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews: CRD42021239614). Overall, 16,100 nonduplicate articles were screened; 165 met inclusion criteria. Race and/or ethnicity were reported in 55 (33.3%) studies; of those, race was assessed by self-report in 10 studies (6.1%) or was unspecified in 45 (27.3%). A total of 16 studies (9.7%) evaluated psychometric property differences by race, and only five (4.4%) of those did not recognize it as a limitation. Properties assessed across race, ethnicity, or skin tone were differential item functioning, convergent validity feasibility, inter-rater reliability, intrarater reliability, test‒retest reliability, and known-groups validity. Multiple instruments demonstrated performance differences across ethnoracial groups. This review highlights the paucity of race/ethnicity consideration for psychometric property testing in AD outcome measurement instruments. More AD outcomes instruments should be validated in diverse populations.

IGAxBSA composite for assessing disease severity and response in patients with atopic dermatitis

BACKGROUND

Accurate assessment of atopic dermatitis (AD) severity is critical when initiating and monitoring therapy. Use of existing research tools such as the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) and the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) is complex and time-consuming in clinical practice. A previous analysis found the product of validated Investigator Global Assessment (vIGA) and affected body surface area (BSA) to be an accurate and practical tool for routine assessment of paediatric AD.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate IGAxBSA composite as an alternative to EASI or SCORAD for assessment of AD disease severity and disease responsiveness.

METHODS

The relationship between IGAxBSA, EASI, and SCORAD was assessed in a post-hoc analysis of pooled data from the dupilumab clinical trial programme in adult and paediatric patients with moderate-to-severe AD who had received dupilumab or placebo (with/without topical corticosteroids [TCS]).

RESULTS

Using datapoints from pooled dupilumab randomized controlled trials (n = 3473) and open-label extension (OLE) trials (n = 3045), we found that IGAxBSA correlated well with EASI and SCORAD, irrespective of treatment group and race (White/Asian/Black). IGAxBSA correlated better with objective measures (EASI, SCORAD) than with patient/caregiver-reported subjective measures. IGAxBSA correlated strongly with EASI and SCORAD in assessing disease change over time (r = 0.8973; r = 0.7649, respectively; P < 0.0001) and concordance between IGAxBSA-50/75/90 and EASI-50/75/90 was excellent (88-94%).

CONCLUSIONS

IGAxBSA is a valid alternative for assessment of AD disease severity and response over time, compared with EASI or SCORAD in patients with AD, irrespective of race.

Generation and Validation of the PROMIS Itch Questionnaire - Child to Measure the Impact of Itch on Life Quality

Itch compromises quality of life, but most itch assessments focus only on itch intensity. We aimed to develop and validate a comprehensive PROMIS (Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System®) pediatric measure for itch symptoms and itch impact, defined as the effect specifically of itch on physical, mental, and social health, all of which can affect life quality. After literature review, concept elicitation and cognitive interviews with parents and children with itch, and repeated content-expert review, an item pool was generated and refined. The pool was calibrated with data from 499 pruritic children using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, item response theory, and item fit analysis. The resultant 45-item bank, PROMIS Itch Questionnaire - Child (PIQ-C), showed good convergent and discriminant validity in 181 children 8-17 years of age, discriminating children with different levels of severity, and was responsive to change. Strong correlations (rho>.60) were observed with pain and sleep measures, and moderate correlations with other pediatric PROMIS measures. PIQ-C comprehensively measures itch intensity and burden, providing an itch-specific alternative for assessing life quality. The independent calibration of each item/question allows for flexibility in generating short-forms or computerized adaptive testing for efficient use in research and office practice.

Sensitivity of clinician-assessed efficacy outcome measurement instruments in trials of topical therapies for atopic dermatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The rising prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) in developing countries and its substantial socioeconomic impact have furthered research over the last two decades giving way to advances in its aetiopathogenesis and treatment. Topical therapies targeting newly identified AD signalling pathways are being developed. Numerous clinician-assessed disease severity outcome measurement instruments (OMIs) are available to evaluate the efficacy of investigational treatments in proof-of-concept (POC) trials for AD. However, little is known about the comparative sensitivity of these efficacy OMIs. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the sensitivity of different OMIs in controlled trials of topical therapies for AD published between January 1, 2000 and April 7, 2020. Treatment effect size of OMIs reported at Week 4 was calculated with 95% Confidence Interval (CI). The sensitivity of OMIs was compared by pooling the standardized difference between means (Cohen's d and Cohen's h) for any two OMI-parameter combinations that were reported in ≥3 studies identified in our systematic review. Assessed parameters were difference between active and vehicle at Week 4 and change from baseline [CFB] and percentage change from baseline [%CFB] at Week 4. We identified a total of 15 studies with 3313 subjects examining 14 different OMIs were included in this quantitative meta-analysis. Continuous OMIs had a significantly higher treatment effect size vs. dichotomous OMIs (P = 0.006). Comparisons of Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA), body surface area (BSA) and SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) for available parameters were performed and generally had a similar sensitivity, with BSA showing smaller overall effect size estimates. In conclusion, continuous OMIs used in topical clinical trials for AD had significantly higher treatment effect sizes when compared to dichotomous OMIs. Continuous OMIs could provide more power for POC trials with a small sample size in atopic dermatitis with topical therapies.

Measuring Atopic Dermatitis Disease Severity: The Potential for Electronic Tools to Benefit Clinical Care

Severity of atopic dermatitis (AD) correlates with impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), work productivity, and burden on health systems. Tools to measure severity inform regulatory approval, drug access, and value- or measurement-based care. A core set of instruments for measuring AD has been established. Clinician-reported tools are divided broadly into multi-item global estimates or precise calculators that also weigh affected corporeal surfaces. Increasingly, subjective patient-reported outcomes are valued, with the potential to capture vast amounts of health-related data. Patient-reported outcomes can be disease-agnostic, skin-related, or AD-specific, and evaluate global disease, itch severity, long-term control, or overall HRQoL. Patient-reported outcomes are expansive in number; therefore, item banks and adaptive digital user interfaces will be increasingly needed, along with capacity to store and analyze data. Technologies for AD include tools for communication, severity assessment, or data exchange, as well as electronic health records (EHRs). For clinicians, a limited number of applications exist, with relatively poor interoperability with EHRs to date. For patients, a growing number of mobile health (mHealth) applications exhibit variable compliance with international guidelines for self-management. Data privacy and information security governance are key considerations in the development of information technologies for AD. Integrated and streamlined digital operational processes for disease measurements may build capacity for high value and efficient care of patients with AD across the globe.

Management of Severe Atopic Dermatitis in Pediatric Patients

Atopic dermatitis is a common, chronic inflammatory skin disorder, present in about 12% of children worldwide. Optimizing management of severe atopic dermatitis in pediatric patients is critical to reduce signs of inflammation, alleviate pruritus and sleep disturbance, minimize the development and/or impact of comorbidities, and improve the patient and caregiver's quality of life. Evaluating the longitudinal severity of pediatric atopic dermatitis is an important component of measuring therapeutic response and long-term management, and is different in clinical practice versus clinical trials. This article describes when and how to use different treatments for pediatric patients with severe atopic dermatitis, including topical medications, phototherapy, and systemic medical therapies (traditional immunosuppressants, biologics, and small molecule inhibitors). It also provides recommendations useful in clinical practice for nonpharmacologic interventions for pediatric patients with severe atopic dermatitis.

Tape strips from early-onset pediatric atopic dermatitis highlight disease abnormalities in nonlesional skin

BACKGROUND

Skin biopsies promote our understanding of atopic dermatitis/AD pathomechanisms in infants/toddlers with early-onset AD, but are not feasible in pediatric populations. Tape strips are an emerging, minimally invasive alternative, but global transcriptomic profiling in early pediatric AD is lacking. We aimed to provide global lesional and nonlesional skin profiles of infants/toddlers with recent-onset, moderate-to-severe AD using tape strips.

METHODS

Sixteen tape strips were collected for RNA-seq profiling from 19 infants/toddlers (<5 years old; lesional and nonlesional) with early-onset moderate-to-severe AD (≤6 months) and 17 healthy controls.

RESULTS

We identified 1829 differentially expressed genes/DEGs in lesional AD and 662 DEGs in nonlesional AD, vs healthy skin (fold-change ≥2, FDR <0.05), with 100% sample recovery. Both lesional and nonlesional skin showed significant dysregulations of Th2 (CCL17 and IL4R) and Th22/Th17 (IL36G, CCL20, and S100As)-related genes, largely lacking significant Th1-skewing. Significant down-regulation of terminal differentiation (FLG and FLG2), lipid synthesis/metabolism (ELOVL3 and FA2H), and tight junction (CLDN8) genes were primarily seen in lesional AD. Significant negative correlations were identified between Th2 measures and epidermal barrier gene-subsets and individual genes (FLG with IL-4R and CCL17; r < -0.4, P < .05). Significant correlations were also identified between clinical measures (body surface area/BSA, pruritus ADQ, and transepidermal water loss/TEWL) with immune and barrier mRNAs in lesional and/or nonlesional AD (FLG/FLG2 with TEWL; r < -0.4, P < .05).

CONCLUSION

RNA-seq profiling using tape strips in early-onset pediatric AD captures immune and barrier alterations in both lesional and nonlesional skin. Tape strips provide insight into disease pathomechanisms and cutaneous disease activity.

Measurement properties of the product of investigator's global assessment and body surface area in children and adults with atopic dermatitis

BACKGROUND

Multiple clinician-reported outcome measures exist for atopic dermatitis (AD) severity. However, there is no gold standard for use in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the measurement properties of the product of validated Investigator's Global Assessment for AD (vIGA) and body surface area (BSA) overall or divided into six categories (cBSA: 0%/0.1, <10%/10, <30%/30, <50%/50, <70%/70 and <90%/90-100%) and compare with other clinician-reported and patient-reported outcomes in adults and children with AD.

METHODS

We performed a prospective dermatology practice-based study using questionnaires and evaluation by a dermatologist (n = 653).

RESULTS

vIGA*BSA and vIGA*cBSA had good convergent validity with BSA (Spearman's ρ = 0.97 and 0.93), eczema area and severity index (ρ = 0.94 and 0.92), and objective SCORAD (ρ = 0.88 and 0.89); and weak-to-good convergent validity with Numeric Rating Scale average itch (ρ = 0.22 and 0.22) and worst itch (ρ = 0.27 and 0.28), Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (ρ = 0.44 and 0.43), Dermatology Life Quality Index (ρ = 0.48 and 0.49), ItchyQOL (ρ = 0.45 and 0.46), PROMIS Sleep Disturbance (ρ = 0.46 and 0.37) and sleep-related impairment (ρ = 0.31 and 0.31) in adults and/or children; very good discriminant validity for physician-reported global AD severity; good responsiveness to change of severity of AD and itch; and good reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient [95% confidence interval]: 0.72 [0.60-0.81] and 0.74 [0.62-0.82]) with no floor or ceiling effects. Thresholds for interpretability bands and clinically important difference were established.

CONCLUSIONS

vIGA*BSA and vIGA*cBSA scores showed good convergent and discriminant validity, reliability, responsiveness and interpretability in adults and children with AD, and were feasible for use in clinical practice. vIGA*BSA and vIGA*cBSA had slightly lower convergent validity than EASI or objective SCORAD, but might be more efficient to collect and score.

Management of Atopic Dermatitis in Children Younger Than Two Years of Age by Community Pediatricians: A Survey and Chart Review

OBJECTIVES

To characterize primary care providers' (PCPs) practice patterns for atopic dermatitis (AD) in children <2 years old and determine the need for AD guidelines for PCPs focused on this age group.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a mixed-methods study consisting of a survey and a retrospective medical record review of PCP practices in the Chicago metropolitan area. The survey was analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative methods.

RESULTS

In the survey (n = 52 respondents), PCPs reported management of AD is different in children <2 years compared with older children (88%). They were more likely to refer to a specialist (65%) and less likely to use high-potency topical corticosteroids (64%). In the chart review, PCP visits for children 2-5 years old (n = 50 914) vs those <2 years old (n = 71 913) for AD, older children had medium- and high-potency topical corticosteroids prescribed more frequently than younger children (0.66% vs 0.37%, P < .01 and .15% vs 0.05%, P < .01, respectively). In the subset of children <2 years of age who also were evaluated by a specialist (n = 109), medium- and high-potency topical corticosteroids were prescribed disproportionately at visits to providers in dermatology (57%) vs allergy (30%) vs pediatrics (15%) (P < .01). PCPs suggested that guidelines for this age group should include recommendations for preferred corticosteroids (39%), allergy management (35%), referral criteria (22%), and assessment of disease severity (11%).

CONCLUSIONS

PCP management of AD in children <2 years is different from older children, with possible underuse of medium/high-potency topical corticosteroids. Clear guidelines for this age group are needed.

Initial validation of the product of the signs global assessment and body surface area in atopic dermatitis

BACKGROUND

Current valid instruments that measure the signs of atopic dermatitis in clinical trials may not be suitable for clinical practice because of their complexity. The product of a clinician-derived 5-point signs global assessment and body surface area (SGA × BSA) may represent a simple approach to quickly assess the severity of signs in patients with atopic dermatitis in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVES

Evaluate the basic measurement properties of the SGA × BSA.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review of patients with atopic dermatitis treated in an outpatient dermatology clinic at Oregon Health & Science University from 2015 to 2018 who had a recorded BSA and SGA.

RESULTS

We identified 138 patients completing 325 clinic visits. SGA × BSA demonstrated strong and statistically significant (P < .001) correlations with the Eczema Area and Severity Index (r = 0.91, n = 19), average daily pruritus (r = 0.71, n = 177), patient global assessment (r = 0.74, n = 170), and a derived global scale composed of the average of 4 signs rated between 0 and 3 (r = 0.77, n = 282). Acceptability, responsiveness, and floor or ceiling effects of the measure were deemed adequate. Severity banding was maximized at 1, 21, and 87 (κ = 0.4902).

LIMITATIONS

The patient cohort was gathered exclusively from a tertiary care clinic setting in the Pacific Northwest and lacked ethnic diversity.

CONCLUSIONS

The results from this study suggest that SGA × BSA is a valid and feasible instrument for atopic dermatitis signs in clinical practice.