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This article discusses the evaluation of the Atopic Dermatitis Control Tool (ADCT), a patient-reported outcome instrument used to assess patient-perceived disease control in atopic dermatitis (AD). The study found that the ADCT had strong internal consistency and construct validity in both adult and adolescent populations. It suggests that the ADCT can improve patient-clinician communication and inform disease-management decisions. However, the small sample size limits the generalizability of the findings. The article also mentions that B.L. is involved with several pharmaceutical companies in various capacities, which may be relevant for patrons researching pharmaceutical companies and their collaborations with medical professionals. [Extracted from the article]

Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) is a rare genetic disorder that markedly increases plasma triglycerides (TG), causing pancreatitis, abdominal pain, and other symptoms that profoundly impact patients' quality of life. In a randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 study (Balance; NCT04568434), olezarsen significantly reduced TGs among adults with FCS. To further explore the FCS patient experience during olezarsen treatment, including perceptions of meaningful changes in FCS symptoms and impacts. Patients with FCS (US, Canada, Spain, Italy) continuing olezarsen treatment in an open-label extension (OLE) of the Balance study participated in 1-hour semistructured qualitative interviews via telephone. Thematic analysis was conducted. Eighteen of 60 OLE participants completed interviews (10 female; 55.6%); mean age at interview was 43.5 (range, 23-73) years. (See Table 1 for participant characteristics.) When interviewed, participants randomized to active drug in Balance had received olezarsen for 67-113 weeks, whereas participants randomized to placebo had received olezarsen for 16-47 weeks. Seventeen of 18 participants reported a history of pancreatitis, including 14 with pancreatitis events in the 10 years prior to enrollment in the Balance study (13/14 requiring hospitalization). Moreover, all participants reported experiencing at least 1 FCS-related symptom prior to enrollment, such as abdominal pain (n=17; 94.4%), physical fatigue (n=12; 66.7%), diarrhea (n=10; 55.6%), vomiting (n=9; 50.0%), nausea (n=6, 33.3%), and difficulty thinking (n=5, 27.8%). Fifteen participants reported being symptomatic in the absence of pancreatitis, most commonly experiencing abdominal pain (n=12). All participants reported FCS-related impacts, including dietary restrictions (n=18; 100%), mood/emotions (n=17; 94.4%), hospitalizations (n=14; 77.8%), and social activities (n=14; 77.8). Participant feedback on treatment-related improvements was based on their experiences and belief of starting olezarsen, either within Balance or OLE. Fifteen of 18 participants (83.3%) reported improvements, including reductions in FCS-related symptoms (abdominal pain [n=14/17; 82.4%], physical fatigue [n=7/12; 58.3%], diarrhea [n=6/10; 60.0%], vomiting [n=7/8; 87.5%], nausea [n=3/5; 60.0%], difficulty thinking [n=3/5; 60.0%]) and impacts (relationships [n=6/7; 85.7.0%], hospital admittances [n=11/14; 78.6%], finances [n=3/4; 75.0%], mood/emotions [n=12/17; 70.6%]). All 14 participants with pancreatitis events in the past 10 years reported pancreatitis-related improvements, including 11 (78.6%) with no pancreatitis events and 3 (21.4%) with less frequent and/or less severe events since they believed they started olezarsen treatment. Overall, most participants (15/18; 83.3%) reported meaningful improvements and indicated they were satisfied with olezarsen treatment. Results of this qualitative study both underscore the significant burden of FCS and support the efficacy of olezarsen from the patient perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patient-reported outcomes can measure health aspects that are meaningful to patients, such as 'life engagement' in major depressive disorder (MDD). Expert psychiatrists recently identified ten items from the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report (IDS-SR) that can be used to measure patient life engagement. This study aimed to explore the concept of patient life engagement and provide support for the IDS-SR10 Life Engagement subscale from the patient perspective. Methods: Semi-structured video interviews were conducted with adults with MDD in the United States. Patients were asked if they ever felt engaged with life, and how this affected their feelings, activities, socializing, and thoughts. Then, patients discussed the ten expert-selected IDS-SR items, and rated the relevance of all 30 items to patient life engagement on a 4-point scale. Results: Patients (N = 20) understood the 'engaged with life' concept and could provide examples from their own lives, such as increased energy/motivation (100%), being more social/spending time with others (85%), being more communicative (80%), and having better mood (75%). Nineteen patients (95%) indicated that all ten IDS-SR10 Life Engagement items were relevant to patient life engagement, and nine of the ten items had a mean score ≥ 3 (moderately relevant). Four additional items (all relating to mood) also scored ≥ 3. Conclusions: Patients found the concept of life engagement to be important and relatable, and confirmed the IDS-SR10 captures the defining non-mood-related aspects of patient life engagement. This research supports the relevance of patient life engagement as a potential clinical outcome beyond core mood symptoms, and the use of the IDS-SR10 Life Engagement subscale in patient-oriented research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (with or without psoriatic arthritis) places significant burden on patients’ lives.Objective: Explore and document patients’ experiences of living with psoriasis, including symptoms, treatments, impact on daily lives and patient-reported functioning.Methods: In a US-based, non-interventional study, narrative interviews were conducted at baseline and again within 16 weeks. In interviews, patients with moderate to severe psoriasis indicated symptoms, ranked symptoms according to level of bother and indicated areas of their lives affected by psoriasis. Transcripts of interviews were coded for themes. Measurements of psoriasis severity including BSA, PGA and PASI were recorded.Results: Symptoms reported most frequently included flaking/scaling (non-scalp areas), itching/scratching and rash, while the most bothersome symptoms were itching/scratching, flaking/scaling (non-scalp areas) and skin pain. Frequently reported impact areas were social and emotional.Conclusion: Broad-reaching interviews with patients with psoriasis show that these patients suffer in many aspects of their lives and in ways not indicated by typical psoriasis severity measures. Patients with psoriatic arthritis reported symptoms and disease-related complications at higher rates than those without arthritis. Physicians’ explorations of the effect of psoriasis on patients’ life events could aid in managing these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objectives: Ovarian cancer (OC) typically is diagnosed at advanced stages, in which the primary goal of therapy is to prolong progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). In recent years, maintenance therapy has been tested for this purpose in advanced OC (AOC). Literature on maintenance therapy in AOC was systematically reviewed to assess current knowledge regarding the impact of this therapeutic approach. Methods: A MEDLINE search was performed 2/2009 for articles published 1/2001–1/2009 pertaining to OC maintenance therapy guidelines, patterns, and outcomes. A second search used keywords specific to maintenance and included primary studies published in the last 10 years. Of 406 sources identified, 36 primary studies and 16 review articles were included in this systematic review. A third search used the keyword “consolidation” to find maintenance articles not identified through other searches; of 48 additional sources, 13 primary studies and 6 reviews were included. A fourth search of non-MEDLINE-indexed sources yielded 14 additional relevant publications from the same time period. Results: Among practice guidelines identified, only the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) 2008 guidelines provide recommendations regarding maintenance therapy, assigning it a category 2B recommendation. No studies were identified that reported current treatment patterns or economic outcomes in maintenance therapy; quality of life data were reported in one study. A variety of agents have been tested for maintenance, with paclitaxel the most commonly evaluated. The Southwest Oncology Group—Gynecologic Oncology Group 178 trial has found that 12 cycles of paclitaxel extend PFS (by 7 months) compared to 3 months paclitaxel, but could not adequately evaluate OS. Conclusions: Maintenance therapy may improve clinical outcomes in AOC, but additional research is needed to demonstrate an OS advantage. Future studies should investigate the long-term clinical benefit of maintenance treatment and its impact on resource utilization and health-related quality of life. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]