Utility of the Atopic Dermatitis Control Tool for Assessing Long-term Control of Atopic Dermatitis in Korean Patients on Dupilumab.

Abstract

Purpose: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic condition characterized not only by skin lesions but also by significant patient burden, impacting mental health and quality of life. The Atopic Dermatitis Control Tool (ADCT) is recommended as an assessment tool for evaluating the long-term management of AD. However, there is a scarcity of studies comparing the utility of ADCT in real-world clinical practice to that of the other existing AD evaluation tools. This study aimed to investigate long-term changes in the ADCT and examine its correlations with the other evaluation tools in AD patients undergoing dupilumab treatment.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 89 outpatients with AD who received treatment with dupilumab between April 2020 and March 2023. Patients underwent assessments using the ADCT and other evaluation tools before treatment initiation and at 1, 2, and 3 years following treatment commencement.

Results: Of the 89 patients, with a mean age of 28.7 years (range: 12 to 65 years), 68 (76.4%) were male. All 89 patients were followed for 1 year, 44 for 2 years, and 17 for 3 years. The mean total ADCT score decreased at year 1 (58.2% reduction, P < 0.001), with this reduction continuing at years 2 and 3 (73.8% and 75.3% reduction, respectively, P < 0.001). Furthermore, the distribution of patients achieving an Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) 90 and those with an ADCT < 7 during the dupilumab treatment period appeared almost identical. Moreover, this study established significant correlations between the ADCT score and the following parameters: EASI, body surface area, Dermatology Life Quality Index, Pruritus Numeric Rating Scale, and Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure.

Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the ADCT can serve as a reliable tool for assessing long-term control of AD in real-world settings.