Reduction in hospitalisations with dupilumab in Japanese adults with atopic dermatitis in a real‐world setting

Abstract

Abstract Background In a recent post hoc analysis of multinational clinical trial data, dupilumab treatment for patients with moderate or severe atopic dermatitis (AD) reduced all‐cause and AD‐related hospitalisations. Objectives We studied the impact of dupilumab on health care resource utilisation (HCRU) and AD medication by comparing use during the 6 months either side of starting dupilumab (index) in a real‐world setting. Methods This observational, retrospective, cohort study used Japanese hospital claims data (1 April 2018 to 28 February 2019). A total of 357 patients (mean [range] age 45 [15–92] years; 65.5% male) with ≥1 AD diagnosis and ≥1 dupilumab prescription were included. Outcome variables included AD treatments and HCRU during the 6 months pre‐ and post‐index. Results The number of all‐cause hospitalisations decreased by 43.1% (from 51 in the 6 months before to 29 in the 6 months after dupilumab initiation), with a 96.0% reduction in skin/subcutaneous tissue disease‐related hospitalisations (25 to 1). Use of nonsteroidal systemic immunosuppressants, phototherapy and systemic corticosteroids decreased (by 59.8%, 59.5% and 30.6%, respectively) after dupilumab initiation. At 180 days after dupilumab initiation, 86.8% of patients were still taking dupilumab. Conclusions Overall, these results suggest that dupilumab can reduce skin/soft tissue‐related hospitalisations and use of various other AD medications in a real‐world setting.

Keywords

• atopic dermatitis
• dupilumab
• health care resource utilisation
• hospitalisations
• Japan