Economic Impact of Atopic Dermatitis in Adults: A Population-Based Study (IDEA Study)

To determine resource usage and costs associated with atopic dermatitis in adults according to severity and comorbid conditions in daily clinical practice.

We performed an observational, retrospective study based on a review of registries of patients aged ≥18 years who sought health care in 2013 and 2014 in an area of Catalonia, Spain, with a population of 215,634 persons. We established 3 classes of severity depending on the treatment prescribed. The variables evaluated were total comorbid conditions, concomitant/specific medication, and direct/indirect health care costs. The statistical analysis was based on multiple regression models. Statistical significance was set at P<.05.

We included 6,186 patients with a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis (mean age, 47.1 years; women, 61.6%). We established 3 groups based on severity, as follows: mild (n=3,445 [55.7%]); moderate (n=2,361 [38.2%]); and severe (n=380 [6.1%]). Severe atopic dermatitis was associated with risk of presenting comorbid conditions (β=0.192), namely, asthma (β=0.138), depression (β=0.099), cardiovascular events (β=0.087), obesity (β=0.085), and smoking (β=0.025); P<.001. Costs reached €9.3 million (health care costs, 75.5%; loss of productivity, 24.5%), with an average unit cost of €1,504 per year. The corrected average unit cost (ANCOVA) was greater in severe atopic dermatitis compared with moderate and mild disease (€3,397 vs. €2,111 vs. €885; P<.001), respectively.

Severe atopic dermatitis generates considerable usage of health care resources and high costs for the National Health System. These are in proportion with the severity of the disease. General comorbid conditions and asthma were the factors with the greatest impact on health care costs.