Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory, chronic, remitting-relapsing skin disease. This condition affects up to 10% of children and persist in adults. This disease is a burden to their health and quality of life. The follow up of AD and prevention of relapse have a great impact on health care spending, society costs and patient’s out-of-pocket expenditure.

The aim of the study is to assess the cost-effectiveness of different emollients prescribed in a French setting for AD patients.

A three health-state Markov model was developed over a 5-year period. Randomized controlled trials were used for transition probabilities assessment. French data for resource utilisation were used as well as French official prices. An all payers perspective – with costs of treatment acquisition, administration, follow-up costs, out-of-pocket expenditure linked to DA – was used. MD and drugs’s reimbursement rates are accounted for.

5 different emollients (A, B, C, D, E) and no emollient use were compared. Emollient E is the generic medication of B, warranting the same efficacy at a lower cost.

Health states were flare-ups during which patient is relapsing and is treated by topical corticosteroids, post-corticoid, and maintenance. We assumed patients used emollients in all health-states. The selected outcome was time without flare-up (YWFU). Sensitivity analysis were performed.

For emollient A, the 5-year cost amounts to 1 575.64 € and generates 3.89 YWFU. Treatment E is the cheapest strategy: 1 093.80€. Compared to treatment E, A is more expensive (+ 481.84€), and more effective (+ 0.084 YWFU, ie 30 days). ICER is 5737.04€/YWFU. No treatment is the least effective strategy (3.462 YWFU), costs 1230.78€, being dominated by strategy E. Strategies B, C, D are dominated.

Treating AD with emollient is a cost-effective strategy. From a willingness to pay of 6000€/YWFU and upwards strategy A is the most efficient