{"title":"Disease Burden and Treatment-Seeking Behaviour of Adults with Atopic Dermatitis in Singapore: An Online Cross-Sectional Survey.","authors":"Yik Weng Yew, Malvin Kang, Sharanya Jois, Adrien Gras, Christian Apfelbacher","doi":"10.1007/s13555-025-01379-1","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic systemic inflammatory skin disease with a notably high prevalence in Singapore. Despite available treatments, a significant proportion of patients remain untreated, highlighting a critical need to understand treatment-seeking behaviours and address the multi-faceted disease burden.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An online survey was conducted among 344 adult patients and caregivers answering on behalf of patients to obtain data on clinical impact and quality-of life (QoL), current treatment goals, management, financial impact and treatment-seeking behaviours. This study analysed the differences between patients with different AD severity using data initially collected in Excel and processed in SPSS.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>AD patients in Singapore face challenges like self-consciousness due to appearance (38%), treatment costs (36%) and the need for additional skincare (34%), with severe AD patients significantly more affected by these issues. Key symptoms like skin dryness (61%), itchiness (56%) and red/scaly skin (48%) worsen with disease severity. AD's impact on patients intensifies with severity, with 100% of severe AD patients rating their condition as 'very serious', correlating with a higher Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score. Management strategies for AD flare-ups include lifestyle changes (53%) and home remedies (48%). Financial burden is considerable, averaging US dollars (USD) 1368 per month, with 82% perceiving it as 'extreme', affecting treatment adherence.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study underscores the significant burden and impact on QoL faced by adult AD patients in Singapore. It highlights the necessity for targeted research on economic impacts and treatment behaviours in specific groups and the urgent need for effective interventions to enhance QoL, particularly for those with severe AD.</p>","PeriodicalId":11186,"journal":{"name":"Dermatology and Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"997-1008"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11971118/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Dermatology and Therapy","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s13555-025-01379-1","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/3/21 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"DERMATOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic systemic inflammatory skin disease with a notably high prevalence in Singapore. Despite available treatments, a significant proportion of patients remain untreated, highlighting a critical need to understand treatment-seeking behaviours and address the multi-faceted disease burden.
Methods: An online survey was conducted among 344 adult patients and caregivers answering on behalf of patients to obtain data on clinical impact and quality-of life (QoL), current treatment goals, management, financial impact and treatment-seeking behaviours. This study analysed the differences between patients with different AD severity using data initially collected in Excel and processed in SPSS.
Results: AD patients in Singapore face challenges like self-consciousness due to appearance (38%), treatment costs (36%) and the need for additional skincare (34%), with severe AD patients significantly more affected by these issues. Key symptoms like skin dryness (61%), itchiness (56%) and red/scaly skin (48%) worsen with disease severity. AD's impact on patients intensifies with severity, with 100% of severe AD patients rating their condition as 'very serious', correlating with a higher Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score. Management strategies for AD flare-ups include lifestyle changes (53%) and home remedies (48%). Financial burden is considerable, averaging US dollars (USD) 1368 per month, with 82% perceiving it as 'extreme', affecting treatment adherence.
Conclusion: The study underscores the significant burden and impact on QoL faced by adult AD patients in Singapore. It highlights the necessity for targeted research on economic impacts and treatment behaviours in specific groups and the urgent need for effective interventions to enhance QoL, particularly for those with severe AD.
期刊介绍：
Dermatology and Therapy is an international, open access, peer-reviewed, rapid publication journal (peer review in 2 weeks, published 3–4 weeks from acceptance). The journal is dedicated to the publication of high-quality clinical (all phases), observational, real-world, and health outcomes research around the discovery, development, and use of dermatological therapies. Studies relating to diagnosis, pharmacoeconomics, public health and epidemiology, quality of life, and patient care, management, and education are also encouraged.
Areas of focus include, but are not limited to all clinical aspects of dermatology, such as skin pharmacology; skin development and aging; prevention, diagnosis, and management of skin disorders and melanomas; research into dermal structures and pathology; and all areas of aesthetic dermatology, including skin maintenance, dermatological surgery, and lasers.
The journal is of interest to a broad audience of pharmaceutical and healthcare professionals and publishes original research, reviews, case reports/case series, trial protocols, and short communications. Dermatology and Therapy will consider all scientifically sound research be it positive, confirmatory or negative data. Submissions are welcomed whether they relate to an International and/or a country-specific audience, something that is crucially important when researchers are trying to target more specific patient populations. This inclusive approach allows the journal to assist in the dissemination of quality research, which may be considered of insufficient interest by other journals. The journal appeals to a global audience and receives submissions from all over the world.
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