Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: To describe symptom flare occurrence and treatment-use in atopic dermatitis (AD) based on home-reported outcomes (HROs), defined as data “tracks” recorded by patients using the Folia app, a digital health tracking tool used for real-world research. While AD is known to be a high healthcare utilization condition, examination of clinical or claims data alone may underrepresent the true burden of disease, as not all symptoms lead to clinical utilization. The app-based study was designed with AD patients and their caregivers, with the goal of capturing a fuller understanding of the day-to-day experience of individuals with AD.
METHODS: Analysis included 1 month of data collection from 34 individuals with self-reported AD. Participants used the Folia app to track their self-defined symptoms, treatments, flares, and management of flares. There were no specific app usage requirements; rather, participants tracked as much and as often as they chose. Patterns of app usage—including frequency, day, time, symptoms, treatments, flare incidence, and strategies used to manage flares—were examined.
RESULTS: Participants tracked a total of 39 unique symptoms and 60 unique treatments. On average, each individual tracked 4.8 unique symptoms (sd = 3.7) and 3.1 unique treatments (sd = 4.8). The app was used most frequently on Fridays and Saturdays, and most commonly in the evenings between 6-10pm. The majority of users reported managing their symptoms and flares independently: 94% of flare days did not result in clinical care.
CONCLUSIONS: Patients with AD tracked a broad range of symptoms and treatments, demonstrating engagement with and interest in using a digital health tracking tool. Notably, the majority of symptom exacerbations were managed at home without consulting a clinician, and a large percentage of tracks were recorded outside typical timeframes when care is sought. These findings highlight the potential of HRO tracking in enhancing our understanding of disease burden in AD.