SOCIOECONOMIC BURDEN OF DRY EYE DISEASE IN THE UNITED STATES: REAL-WORLD EVIDENCE FROM THE ADELPHI DED DISEASE SPECIFIC PROGRAMME
Author(s)
Jodi Luchs, MD, FACS1, Emily Coak, BSc2, Jessica Robinson, MSc2, Mayesha Chowdhury, MSc2, Desiree Owen, OD3, Eric Hillson, PhD3.
1Florida Vision Institute, West Palm Beach, FL, USA, 2Adelphi Real World, Bollington, United Kingdom, 3AbbVie, North Chicago, IL, USA.
1Florida Vision Institute, West Palm Beach, FL, USA, 2Adelphi Real World, Bollington, United Kingdom, 3AbbVie, North Chicago, IL, USA.
OBJECTIVES: Evaluate socioeconomic burden of dry eye disease (DED) in the U.S. using data.
METHODS: Data were sourced from Adelphi DED Disease Specific ProgrammeTM, a U.S. cross-sectional survey of eyecare practitioners (ECPs) and DED patients in 2021-2022. ECPs reported EMR data for DED patients (n=723), demographics, symptoms, and treatment history. 250 patients completed a survey: Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI), symptom burden, driving impact, and out-of-pocket spending for Rx and OTC DED treatments.
RESULTS: Among 723 DED patients (mean age 56.3 years; 72.6% female) half reported as employed full-time, with patients reporting DED negatively impacted their ability to work. Mean overall work impairment was 27.9%, increasing from 24.0% in subclinical or mild to 34.6% in moderate or severe disease. Presenteeism accounted for productivity loss (27.1%); absenteeism remained low (0.8%). Mean activity impairment was 26.0%, rising from 22.6% in subclinical or mild to 31.9% in moderate or severe DED. Multifactorial DED showed highest work impairment (33.5%). Local inflammatory symptoms and vision impairment showed greater overall work impairment (p=0.0094; p=0.0014) and activity impairment (p=0.0067; p=0.0059). Mucus and contact lens discomfort were drivers of activity impairment (p=0.0032; p=0.0119). Driving was impacted, with 25.0% of moderate or severe patients reporting moderate to extreme impact during the day and 43.1% at night. Among Rx-only patients, 50.0% reported improvement over year; among OTC-only patients, 27.9% reported improvement. ECPs reported inflammatory symptoms in 22.6% of Rx-only patients and 50.6% of OTC-only patients. Monthly out-of-pocket costs were $44.2 for Rx and $18.6 for OTC treatments; OTC costs were higher among patients with inflammatory symptoms (p=0.0485) and foreign body sensation (p<0.0001). Approximately 19.1% of patients report being denied insurance for prescriptions.
CONCLUSIONS: DED imposes substantial socioeconomic burden, with symptom-driven presenteeism as a key contributor. Prescription treatment is associated with improved inflammatory symptom control and disease manifestations vs. over-the-counter therapy alone.
METHODS: Data were sourced from Adelphi DED Disease Specific ProgrammeTM, a U.S. cross-sectional survey of eyecare practitioners (ECPs) and DED patients in 2021-2022. ECPs reported EMR data for DED patients (n=723), demographics, symptoms, and treatment history. 250 patients completed a survey: Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI), symptom burden, driving impact, and out-of-pocket spending for Rx and OTC DED treatments.
RESULTS: Among 723 DED patients (mean age 56.3 years; 72.6% female) half reported as employed full-time, with patients reporting DED negatively impacted their ability to work. Mean overall work impairment was 27.9%, increasing from 24.0% in subclinical or mild to 34.6% in moderate or severe disease. Presenteeism accounted for productivity loss (27.1%); absenteeism remained low (0.8%). Mean activity impairment was 26.0%, rising from 22.6% in subclinical or mild to 31.9% in moderate or severe DED. Multifactorial DED showed highest work impairment (33.5%). Local inflammatory symptoms and vision impairment showed greater overall work impairment (p=0.0094; p=0.0014) and activity impairment (p=0.0067; p=0.0059). Mucus and contact lens discomfort were drivers of activity impairment (p=0.0032; p=0.0119). Driving was impacted, with 25.0% of moderate or severe patients reporting moderate to extreme impact during the day and 43.1% at night. Among Rx-only patients, 50.0% reported improvement over year; among OTC-only patients, 27.9% reported improvement. ECPs reported inflammatory symptoms in 22.6% of Rx-only patients and 50.6% of OTC-only patients. Monthly out-of-pocket costs were $44.2 for Rx and $18.6 for OTC treatments; OTC costs were higher among patients with inflammatory symptoms (p=0.0485) and foreign body sensation (p<0.0001). Approximately 19.1% of patients report being denied insurance for prescriptions.
CONCLUSIONS: DED imposes substantial socioeconomic burden, with symptom-driven presenteeism as a key contributor. Prescription treatment is associated with improved inflammatory symptom control and disease manifestations vs. over-the-counter therapy alone.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EE500
Topic
Economic Evaluation
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies
Disease
SDC: Sensory System Disorders (Ear, Eye, Dental, Skin)