Demographics, Comorbidity, Treatment, Healthcare Resource Utilization, and Costs Analysis of Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Dubai.

Abstract

Introduction: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory, and debilitating skin disorder with a substantial disease burden. Currently, there is a dearth of information regarding healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and treatment patterns for patients with HS in Dubai. A better understanding of disease demographics and patient characteristics are necessary for reducing the healthcare costs. The current study evaluated the disease burden, treatment patterns, HCRU, and associated costs in patients with HS, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Methods: This secondary, longitudinal, retrospective, single-cohort study was conducted from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2021. Dubai Real-World Claims Database (DRWD) was used for patients' information. Study included patients with first diagnosis claim during the index period and had continuous enrollment. Patients who did not have continuous enrollment were excluded from the study. Study population was identified based on International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code L73.2. Patients' demographics, common comorbidities, treatment patterns, specialty analysis, HCRU, and in patient length of stay were investigated.

Results: The study included 13,180 patients (median age: 37 years), with similar gender distribution (male: 50.4%; female: 49.6%). The overall reported cases of HS (2015-2021) were in the range of 1,350 to 3,719. Type 2 diabetes mellitus was the most common comorbidity (59.0%). Topical and systemic antibiotics were most frequently prescribed medications (79.6%), followed by systemic and topical anti-acne medications (27.7%) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (27.2%). Overall HCRU and associated costs increased by 76.9% from 12-month pre-index period to 12-month post-index period. Disease-specific median healthcare costs contributed largely (79.5%) to the overall healthcare costs. In the post-index period, contribution of disease-specific median healthcare costs to all-cause median healthcare costs was highest for diagnosis-related group (97.9%), followed by consumables (88.4%), procedures (37.5%), services (27.6), and medications (25.4%).

Conclusion: HS is well-documented disease in Dubai claims data and is associated with significant morbidity and healthcare costs. This sheds light on the high burden of HS and should trigger increased awareness as well as new disease management interventions. Newer therapies such as biologics should play a role in the management of HS in the UAE.