Abstract：
Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disorder that manifests as nonscarring hair loss and imposes a substantial disease burden. The current study, using an e-claims database, assesses the disease burden, comorbidities, treatment patterns, specialties involved in the diagnosis of AA, healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), and associated costs in privately insured patients with AA in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The retrospective longitudinal secondary study was conducted using Dubai Real-World Database e-claims data during 01 January 2014 to 30 June 2022. Patients with at least one diagnosis claim of AA during the index period (01 January 2015-30 June 2021) with continuous enrollment (one or more AA/non-AA claim in the post-index period) were included in the analysis. The patients were stratified into subcohorts based on diagnosis code and treatment patterns, as mild, moderate-to-severe, and others. Demographics, comorbidities, treatment patterns, specialists visited, and HCRU were assessed. The study included 11 851 patients with AA (mean age: mild: 37 years; moderate-to-severe: 36 years), with a male predominance (mild: 77.6%; moderate-to-severe: 60.8%). The most prevalent comorbidities in the moderate-to-severe AA subcohort were autoimmune and T-helper 2-mediated immune disorders, including contact dermatitis and eczema (62.1%), atopic dermatitis (36.1%), and asthma (36.1%). Most patients consulted dermatologists for treatment advice (mild AA: 87.4%; moderate-to-severe AA: 47.7%) and, notably, within 1 day of AA diagnosis. Topical steroids were frequently prescribed across cohorts, regardless of disease severity. Analysis of comorbidities among patients with AA indicated an additional HCRU burden among these subsets of patients. The median disease-specific HCRU cost was higher for psychological comorbidities versus autoimmune and T-helper 2-mediated immune disorders (US $224.99 vs US $103.70). There is a substantial disease and economic burden in patients with AA and associated comorbid conditions; therefore, investing in novel therapies that target the underlying autoimmune pathway may address the gap in effective management of AA.
摘要：
斑秃（AA）是一种自身免疫性疾病，表现为无疤痕性脱发，并造成大量疾病负担。目前的研究,使用电子索赔数据库，评估疾病负担，合并症,治疗模式,涉及AA诊断的专业，医疗保健资源利用(HCCU)，以及迪拜私人保险AA患者的相关费用，阿拉伯联合酋长国。回顾性纵向二次研究使用2014年1月1日至2022年6月30日期间的迪拜真实世界数据库电子索赔数据进行。分析包括在指数期间（2015年1月1日至2021年6月30日）至少有一项AA诊断声明的患者以及连续入组（在指数后期间有一项或多项AA/非AA声明）。根据诊断代码和治疗模式将患者分为子队列，温和，中度至重度,和其他人。人口统计,合并症,治疗模式,专家访问,和HCRU进行了评估。该研究包括11851例AA患者（平均年龄：轻度：37岁；中度至重度：36岁），以男性为主（轻度：77.6％；中度至重度：60.8％）。中度至重度AA亚组中最普遍的合并症是自身免疫和T辅助细胞2介导的免疫疾病，包括接触性皮炎和湿疹（62.1%），特应性皮炎（36.1%），哮喘（36.1%）。大多数患者咨询皮肤科医生的治疗建议（轻度AA：87.4％；中度至重度AA：47.7％）和，特别是,在AA诊断的1天内。在队列中经常开局部类固醇处方，不管疾病的严重程度。对AA患者合并症的分析表明，在这些患者亚组中，HCRU负担增加。与自身免疫和T辅助细胞2介导的免疫疾病相比，心理合并症的疾病特异性HCRU成本中位数更高（224.99美元vs103.70美元）。有严重的疾病和经济负担的患者AA和相关的共病条件;因此,投资针对基础自身免疫途径的新疗法可能会弥补AA有效管理方面的差距.
