Cost-of-illness of atopic dermatitis in Germany: data from dermatology routine care

Background Progress in the management of atopic dermatitis (AD) and the recent introduction of the first biologic have raised interest in the costs of treating AD. Objectives Since there is a lack of recent data, the objective of this study was to determine the annual costs of adults with AD from the societal perspective. Methods A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted in 111 dermatological offices under routine conditions. Cost parameters were collected with a standardised questionnaire on disease-related costs. This questionnaire allows the determination of costs for systemic and topical treatment, outpatient and inpatient visits, rehabilitation stays and travel costs. Direct costs were determined for the statutory health insurance (SHI) and for the patients (out-of-pocket costs). Societal costs also included the indirect costs due to incapacity to work. Costs were calculated for all severity grades and further stratified by mild and moderate-to-severe AD. Results From August 2017 to June 2019, N = 1291 adult patients from all over Germany were included. The total annual costs in the group with all severity grades (n = 706) amounted to euro 3616 +/- euro 6452 (median euro 874) per patient. For patients with mild AD (n = 367), the annual costs were euro 1466 +/- euro 3029 (median euro 551) per patient, while they were euro 5229 +/- euro 7538 (median euro 1791) for patients with moderate-to-severe AD (n = 682). The total economic burden for treating adult patients with AD in Germany is estimated at more than euro 2.2 billion. Conclusions In total, the data from this study show that compared to for example psoriasis, AD has a moderate level of costs-of-illness in Germany. The approval of new therapies is expected to lead to markedly more resource utilisation in the next years.

Automated summary

The study aimed to determine the annual costs of treating adult patients with AD in Germany, finding the total economic burden for treating adult patients with AD in Germany estimated at more than 2.2 billion euros, and indicating that AD has a moderate level of costs-of-illness in Germany compared to conditions like psoriasis. The approval of new therapies is expected to lead to markedly more resource utilization in the next years.