TREATMENT PATTERN, HEALTHCARE RESOURCE UTILIZATION AND COST OF PEDIATRIC PATIENTS WITH ATOPIC DERMATITIS: A CLAIMS DATA ANALYSIS IN THE UNITED STATES
Author(s)
Hao Hsin Huang, MSc1, Pei-Wen Lien, MSc1, Jyotirmoy Sarker, MPharm, MBiotech, MBA1, Ebere Okpara, BPharm1, Po-Cheng Yen, MSc2, Todd Lee, PharmD, PhD1;
1University of Illinois at Chicago, Pharmacy System, Outcome and Policy, Chicago, IL, USA, 2Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
1University of Illinois at Chicago, Pharmacy System, Outcome and Policy, Chicago, IL, USA, 2Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
OBJECTIVES: Recent advancements in therapeutic options in younger children with atopic dermatitis (AD) and the introduction of new topical treatments, have changed the treatment landscape. The study aimed to characterize the contemporary real-world treatment pattern, healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), and associated costs among pediatric patients with AD.
METHODS: This retrospective, claims-based study used the Merative MarketScan® Commercial Claims and Encounters Database, and Medicaid administrative claims data (January 2021-September 2024). Patients aged <18 years with ≥12 months of continuous enrollment before treatment initiation and ≥1 diagnosis of AD prior to treatment were included. Patients with comorbid autoimmune diseases were excluded. Treatment patterns, AD-associated HCRU, and annualized costs were assessed during up to 12 months of follow-up after the index date.
RESULTS: A total of 108,876 patients were included (55.21% female; mean age, 7.5 years [SD, 5.07]). During the follow-up period, 102,073 (93.75%) patients were prescribed topical corticosteroids and 6,256 (5.75%) were prescribed topical calcineurin inhibitors. Among patients receiving systemic therapy, 3,296 (70.0%) were prescribed systemic corticosteroids, 1,363 (28.9%) dupilumab, and 64 (1.4%) immunosuppressants. Overall, 21.5% of prescriptions were provided by dermatologists or immunologists and 76.0% by pediatricians. Dupilumab and upadacitinib were more frequently prescribed by dermatologists or immunologists than by pediatricians (70.4% vs 29.6%). The mean AD-associated healthcare visits was 2.74, with outpatient visits being the most commonly utilized resource (99.4%). The mean number of AD-associated healthcare visits was 2.74, with outpatient visits being the most commonly utilized resource (99.4%). Mean annualized AD-associated costs were $295 (SD, $3,881); among patients receiving systemic therapies, costs increased to $1,160 (SD, $10,265), driven primarily by pharmacy costs.
CONCLUSIONS: Dupilumab has emerged as a key systemic therapy among pediatric patients with AD. Pediatricians play a critical role in the management of pediatric atopic dermatitis, while specialist care remains central to the adoption of newer biologic therapies.
METHODS: This retrospective, claims-based study used the Merative MarketScan® Commercial Claims and Encounters Database, and Medicaid administrative claims data (January 2021-September 2024). Patients aged <18 years with ≥12 months of continuous enrollment before treatment initiation and ≥1 diagnosis of AD prior to treatment were included. Patients with comorbid autoimmune diseases were excluded. Treatment patterns, AD-associated HCRU, and annualized costs were assessed during up to 12 months of follow-up after the index date.
RESULTS: A total of 108,876 patients were included (55.21% female; mean age, 7.5 years [SD, 5.07]). During the follow-up period, 102,073 (93.75%) patients were prescribed topical corticosteroids and 6,256 (5.75%) were prescribed topical calcineurin inhibitors. Among patients receiving systemic therapy, 3,296 (70.0%) were prescribed systemic corticosteroids, 1,363 (28.9%) dupilumab, and 64 (1.4%) immunosuppressants. Overall, 21.5% of prescriptions were provided by dermatologists or immunologists and 76.0% by pediatricians. Dupilumab and upadacitinib were more frequently prescribed by dermatologists or immunologists than by pediatricians (70.4% vs 29.6%). The mean AD-associated healthcare visits was 2.74, with outpatient visits being the most commonly utilized resource (99.4%). The mean number of AD-associated healthcare visits was 2.74, with outpatient visits being the most commonly utilized resource (99.4%). Mean annualized AD-associated costs were $295 (SD, $3,881); among patients receiving systemic therapies, costs increased to $1,160 (SD, $10,265), driven primarily by pharmacy costs.
CONCLUSIONS: Dupilumab has emerged as a key systemic therapy among pediatric patients with AD. Pediatricians play a critical role in the management of pediatric atopic dermatitis, while specialist care remains central to the adoption of newer biologic therapies.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
HSD46
Topic
Health Service Delivery & Process of Care
Disease
SDC: Pediatrics, SDC: Systemic Disorders/Conditions (Anesthesia, Auto-Immune Disorders (n.e.c.), Hematological Disorders (non-oncologic), Pain)