OBJECTIVES

: Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, with an estimated prevalence between 2% and 17% in adults. The current standards of pharmacological treatment in Colombia are unknown. Objective: to determine the patterns of pharmacologic treatment of Colombian adult patients diagnosed with atopic dermatitis during the year 2017.

METHODS

: An observational study was carried out, analyzing the prescription records between January and December 2017, of adult patients (≥18 years old) diagnosed with atopic dermatitis (CIE-10 (L20) atopic dermatitis, (L20.0) Besnier’s Prurigo, (L20.8) other forms of atopic dermatitis and (L20.9) unspecified atopic dermatitis). Sociodemographic, pharmacological variables and concomitant medications were evaluated.

RESULTS

: 15.839 patients with atopic dermatitis were identified, with an average age of 43.5 ± 25.8 years, the majority of were women (63.7%). We estimated a prevalence of 0.3% of adults registered in 2017 and an incidence of 361 new patients per 100.000 / year. Topical corticosteroids were the most prescribed medications (n = 13.364, 84.4%), followed by antihistamines (n = 9.390, 59.3%), systemic corticosteroids (n= 5.163 =32.6%), immunomodulators (n=274, 1.7%) and calcineurin inhibitors (n= 164, 1.0%). 56.8% of patients received combined therapy, particularly topical corticosteroids plus antihistamines. 88.0% of the formulas were performed by general practitioners, 3.7% by dermatologists, 1.9% by general surgeons, 1.1% by allergists, and the remaining prescriptions (5.7%) by other specialties

CONCLUSIONS

: Atopic dermatitis has a low rate of report in the country that affects the interpretation of the data. Mainly affects adult women who are treated with topical corticosteroids, in monotherapy or combined with antihistamines and systemic corticosteroids for short periods of time. Immunomodulators and calcineurin inhibitors are the least frequently used.