A Qualitative Study on Dupilumab's Impact on Atopic Dermatitis Among Adolescent and Adult Patients

Abstract

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common inflammatory skin disease and dupilumab is US Food and Drug Administration-approved in both adult and pediatric AD patients.

Objective: To qualitatively assess the life experiences and impact of treatment in adult and adolescent patients with AD being treated with dupilumab.

Methods: Sixteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with adult (n=9) and adolescent (n=7) participants who had received a diagnosis of AD between 1/1/2017 and 1/1/2022 after they had received treatment with dupilumab. Results were analyzed using qualitative research methods.

Results: Most participants reported frustration with daily topical medications and starting dupilumab after exhausting other treatment options. Before treatment, participants described severe AD, social anxiety, and decreased self-esteem. Although most participants did not experience complete resolution of AD after treatment, all participants described a profound decrease in the physical and psychosocial burden of their disease. Participant satisfaction was high with dupilumab treatment. Injection-related pain was commonly reported as the most negative aspect of treatment.

Discussion: AD was physically and psychosocially debilitating in our cohort. Dupilumab offered an efficacious treatment for these patients and helped improve the physical and psychosocial burden of their disease. J Drugs Dermatol. 2023;22(2):148-153. doi:10.36849/JDD.7053.