Dermatologists’ Perspectives and Real-World Assessment of Alopecia Areata Severity Among Adults in Taiwan
Author(s)
Chen CC1, Yang CC2, Lin SJ3, Austin J4, Kurosky S5, Hanson KA6, Yen M7, Anderson P8, Encinas GA9, Marwaha S10, Chen A7, Chung WH11
1Department of Dermatology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Department of Dermatology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan, 2Department of Dermatology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, 3Department of Dermatology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, 4Adelphi Real World, Bollington, Cheshire, UK, 5Pfizer Inc., New York, NY, USA, 6Department of Pharmacy Systems, Outcomes and Policy, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA, 7Pfizer Taiwan, Taipei, Taiwan, Taiwan, 8Adelphi Real World, Bollington, UK, 9Pfizer S.A. de C.V, Mexico City, EM, Mexico, 10Adelphi Real World, Bollington, Manchester, UK, 11Department of Dermatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei and Linko, Taiwan
Presentation Documents
OBJECTIVES: To describe alopecia areata (AA) disease burden and understand how dermatologists assess disease severity in Taiwan.
METHODS: Data were drawn from the Adelphi Real World AA Taiwan Disease Specific Programme (Oct 2021- Feb 2022), a cross-sectional study of dermatologists and their AA patients. Dermatologists completed patient records reporting demographics, clinical characteristics, percentage scalp hair loss (SHL), and AA severity for their next 6 consulting adult AA patients (one mild, three moderate, and two severe/very severe). Dermatologists also provided attitudinal data covering perspectives on AA management, determining severity, and satisfaction with treatments. Analyses were descriptive.
RESULTS: Overall, 50 dermatologists, of whom 35 specialized in hair (HSDs), reported data for 285 patients. Mean (standard deviation) patient age was 37 (11.6) years and 53% were female. Overall, 96% of patients with physician-reported mild AA had ≤20% SHL, 72% with moderate AA had 21–49% SHL, and 76% with severe/very severe AA had ≥50% SHL. At interview, physicians perceived moderate AA as having a median (interquartile range) SHL of 14% (11-26%), severe 48% (31–51%), and very severe 76% (51–90%). Important factors HSDs used to determine AA severity included extent of hair loss (69%), degree of scalp involvement (49%), prior treatment response (37%), degree of body hair involvement (31%), patient distress (26%), and impact on quality of life (QoL, 26%). Among all dermatologists, 82% were not satisfied with current treatment options for severe AA and 54% felt it was difficult to manage due to lack of effective and safe treatments.
CONCLUSIONS: Patient AA severity is underestimated. Therefore Taiwan’s dermatologists do not define AA severity solely on SHL to avoid underestimating the severity but also consider patient QoL and prior treatment response. Considering clinical, treatment, and QoL factors provides a more comprehensive approach to assessing baseline disease severity and informing appropriate treatment selection.
Conference/Value in Health Info
Value in Health, Volume 27, Issue 12, S2 (December 2024)
Code
EPH225
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Topic Subcategory
Disease Classification & Coding
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, Systemic Disorders/Conditions (Anesthesia, Auto-Immune Disorders (n.e.c.), Hematological Disorders (non-oncologic), Pain)