Healthcare Resource Utilization and Economic Burden Among Adults With Alopecia Areata in the United Arab Emirates
Author(s)
Ayman Al Naeem, MD1, Muna AlSafi, MD2, Ahmed Ameen, MD3, Mohammad Pervaz Ahmad, II, MHA, MD, Other4, Mostafa Zayed, MS5, Haytham Mohamed, PharmD5, Diala Hamza, MBA5, Samantha K. Kurosky, MS6, Gerardo A. Encinas, MD7, Jenny Austin, BS8, Ashley S. Cha-Silva, MS, PharmD9, Shailja Vaghela, MPH10, Juliana M. Canosa, MD11.
1Ibrahim Bin Hamad Obaidullah Hospital, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, 2Department of Heath Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 3NMC Specialty Hospital, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 4Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 5Pfizer, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 6Pfizer Inc, New York, NY, USA, 7Pfizer, Mexico City, Mexico, 8Adelphi Real World, Bollington, United Kingdom, 9Pfizer Inc., Trumbull, CT, USA, 10Director/Founder, HealthEcon Consulting, Ancaster, ON, Canada, 11Pfizer, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
1Ibrahim Bin Hamad Obaidullah Hospital, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, 2Department of Heath Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 3NMC Specialty Hospital, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 4Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 5Pfizer, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 6Pfizer Inc, New York, NY, USA, 7Pfizer, Mexico City, Mexico, 8Adelphi Real World, Bollington, United Kingdom, 9Pfizer Inc., Trumbull, CT, USA, 10Director/Founder, HealthEcon Consulting, Ancaster, ON, Canada, 11Pfizer, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
OBJECTIVES: Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by transient, non-scarring hair loss with preservation of the hair follicle. This study evaluated healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and economic burden of AA in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
METHODS: A secondary analysis was performed using the real-world data from the Adelphi Real World’s AA Disease Specific Programme™, conducted in the UAE, between September 2022 and March 2023. Participating UAE dermatologists provided clinical and treatment information for three consecutively consulting patients with varying disease severity. A subset of these patients independently completed a survey providing details on the use of treatments, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, wigs, and associated out-of-pocket (OOP) costs. Analyses were descriptive and stratified by percent scalp hair loss (% SHL), defined using the Alopecia Areata Investigator Global Assessment (AA-IGA).
RESULTS: A total of 144 patients, with a median [IQR] age of 27 [22-32] and 53.5% male, were included. Forty-four patients (30.6%) had severe-to-very severe AA (≥50% SHL). Patients with 0-20% SHL had a mean (SD) of 4.2 (2.1) and a median of 4.0 [3-5]] dermatologist visits in the past 12 months, increasing to 6.6 (2.8) and 7.0 [5-8] visits, respectively, for patients with ≥50% SHL. Mean and median expected dermatologist visits over the next 12 months were 5.8 (3.7) and 5.0 [4-7], respectively [0-20% SHL: 4.3 (3.1), 4.0 [3-5]; ≥50% SHL: 7.4 (3.5), 7.0 [6-9]]. Patients received a mean of 2.8 (2.0) AA medications. Median per-patient-per-month OOP costs for prescription medications were AED300 [300-500] and AED400 [350-400] for 0-20% SHL and ≥50% SHL, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: Adults with AA in the UAE reported significant HCRU and economic burden, particularly related to dermatologist visits and OOP costs. Patients with extensive hair loss (≥50% SHL) reported a higher burden compared to those with mild disease (0-20%SHL).
METHODS: A secondary analysis was performed using the real-world data from the Adelphi Real World’s AA Disease Specific Programme™, conducted in the UAE, between September 2022 and March 2023. Participating UAE dermatologists provided clinical and treatment information for three consecutively consulting patients with varying disease severity. A subset of these patients independently completed a survey providing details on the use of treatments, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, wigs, and associated out-of-pocket (OOP) costs. Analyses were descriptive and stratified by percent scalp hair loss (% SHL), defined using the Alopecia Areata Investigator Global Assessment (AA-IGA).
RESULTS: A total of 144 patients, with a median [IQR] age of 27 [22-32] and 53.5% male, were included. Forty-four patients (30.6%) had severe-to-very severe AA (≥50% SHL). Patients with 0-20% SHL had a mean (SD) of 4.2 (2.1) and a median of 4.0 [3-5]] dermatologist visits in the past 12 months, increasing to 6.6 (2.8) and 7.0 [5-8] visits, respectively, for patients with ≥50% SHL. Mean and median expected dermatologist visits over the next 12 months were 5.8 (3.7) and 5.0 [4-7], respectively [0-20% SHL: 4.3 (3.1), 4.0 [3-5]; ≥50% SHL: 7.4 (3.5), 7.0 [6-9]]. Patients received a mean of 2.8 (2.0) AA medications. Median per-patient-per-month OOP costs for prescription medications were AED300 [300-500] and AED400 [350-400] for 0-20% SHL and ≥50% SHL, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: Adults with AA in the UAE reported significant HCRU and economic burden, particularly related to dermatologist visits and OOP costs. Patients with extensive hair loss (≥50% SHL) reported a higher burden compared to those with mild disease (0-20%SHL).
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
EE514
Topic
Economic Evaluation, Epidemiology & Public Health, Real World Data & Information Systems
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, Systemic Disorders/Conditions (Anesthesia, Auto-Immune Disorders (n.e.c.), Hematological Disorders (non-oncologic), Pain)