Treatment Patterns in the Management of Alopecia Areata in a Colombian HMO During 2015-2023: A Real-World Data Study
Author(s)
Jair A. Arciniegas, MSc1, Luz E. Perez Jaramillo, MSc2, Juan Manuel Reyes Sanchez, MSc1, Jhon E. Bolaños, MSc, MD2, Farley J. Gonzalez, MSc2, Julian Espitia, MD1, Carlos J. Bello, Pharm2, Andreina J. Alamo, BSc1, Mónica García, MSc1, Luisa Amador, MD1, Alejandra Toro, MD2;
1Pfizer, Bogotá, Colombia, 2Biociencias-Sura, Medellín, Colombia
1Pfizer, Bogotá, Colombia, 2Biociencias-Sura, Medellín, Colombia
Presentation Documents
OBJECTIVES: To identify treatment patterns in the management of alopecia areata (AA) in a Colombian Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) between 2015 and 2023.
METHODS: A retrospective, descriptive cohort study of AA patients from 2015 to 2023 was conducted. Patients with the ICD-10 code L63.0 - L63.9 were included. The index date was when AA was diagnosed, and patients were followed until death, insurance discontinuation, 5-year follow-up, or December 31, 2023, whichever happened first. Demographics, treatment, and medical care were assessed at the index and during follow-up. Data were extracted from HMO administrative health records. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was conducted to determine treatment persistence.
RESULTS: The study included a total of 62,516 patients (12.75% were alopecia universalis and 3.7% alopecia totalis). Approximately 45.1% of these patients were identified during the period following the post-COVID pandemic (2021-2023). A higher proportion of these patients were women (67.7%), with a median age of 31.2 years (IQR 17.6). Most patients received their first AA diagnosis from a general practitioner [GP] (81.5%), with only 8.6% diagnosed by a dermatologist. Follow-up consultations were higher with GP (42.0%) compared to dermatologist (36.6%). Only 11,534 patients (18.4%) received a pharmacological treatment, most patients didn’t receive more than one drug. From 13,807 pharmacological claims, topical betamethasone (38.4%), hydrocortisone (36.4%) and injectable betamethasone (5.1%) were the most common. In addition, the median duration of any of the received treatment was 11 months, where clobetasol, topical betamethasone, prednisolone and azathioprine presented the longest median duration with 15, 14, 13 and 13 months, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: The observed AA patients were mostly female middle-aged adults who have been mainly diagnosed and followed by a GP, and the most frequent treatment was topical betamethasone, and the most persistent treatment was clobetasol.
METHODS: A retrospective, descriptive cohort study of AA patients from 2015 to 2023 was conducted. Patients with the ICD-10 code L63.0 - L63.9 were included. The index date was when AA was diagnosed, and patients were followed until death, insurance discontinuation, 5-year follow-up, or December 31, 2023, whichever happened first. Demographics, treatment, and medical care were assessed at the index and during follow-up. Data were extracted from HMO administrative health records. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was conducted to determine treatment persistence.
RESULTS: The study included a total of 62,516 patients (12.75% were alopecia universalis and 3.7% alopecia totalis). Approximately 45.1% of these patients were identified during the period following the post-COVID pandemic (2021-2023). A higher proportion of these patients were women (67.7%), with a median age of 31.2 years (IQR 17.6). Most patients received their first AA diagnosis from a general practitioner [GP] (81.5%), with only 8.6% diagnosed by a dermatologist. Follow-up consultations were higher with GP (42.0%) compared to dermatologist (36.6%). Only 11,534 patients (18.4%) received a pharmacological treatment, most patients didn’t receive more than one drug. From 13,807 pharmacological claims, topical betamethasone (38.4%), hydrocortisone (36.4%) and injectable betamethasone (5.1%) were the most common. In addition, the median duration of any of the received treatment was 11 months, where clobetasol, topical betamethasone, prednisolone and azathioprine presented the longest median duration with 15, 14, 13 and 13 months, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: The observed AA patients were mostly female middle-aged adults who have been mainly diagnosed and followed by a GP, and the most frequent treatment was topical betamethasone, and the most persistent treatment was clobetasol.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1
Code
HSD101
Topic
Health Service Delivery & Process of Care
Disease
SDC: Sensory System Disorders (Ear, Eye, Dental, Skin)