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Healthcare Utilization and Treatment Patterns in Patients with Chronic Prurigo and Chronic Pruritus in Germany.

Authors :
Ständer S
Garbe C
Hagenström K
Petersen J
Zeidler C
Augustin M
Source :
Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland) [Dermatology] 2022; Vol. 238 (4), pp. 753-761. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Feb 17.
Publication Year :
2022

Abstract

Background: To date, there have been no large studies describing real-world treatment of chronic prurigo (CPG) and pruritus (CPR) in Germany.<br />Objective: To determine the healthcare utilization, treatment patterns, and costs associated with CPG and CPR in Germany.<br />Methods: Retrospective analysis using anonymized claims data (German DAK-Gesundheit), based on a 40% sample of all insured adults of the DAK-Gesundheit on December 31, 2010 (N = 2,006,003).<br />Results: Patients with CPR (prevalence 2.2%) most commonly visited general medicine/general practitioners (GPs, 80.1%), followed by gynecologists (66.1%) and dermatologists (51.1%). Patients with CPG (prevalence 0.2%) most commonly visited dermatologists (85.7%), GPs (78.1%), and ophthalmologists (47.2%). Of adult patients, 44% received at least one drug prescription. Two thirds of patients with a drug prescription received ≥1 topical drug (66.2%), and 54.3% ≥1 systemic drug (total costs of approximately EUR 550,000 and 2,500,000, respectively). Of patients with CPG, 33.8% received ≥1 systemic and 45.1% ≥1 topical drug prescription (costs of approximately EUR 360,000 vs. 105,000). Of patients with CPR, 23.5% received ≥1 systemic and 28.6% ≥1 topical drug prescription (costs of approximately EUR 2,000,000 vs. 500,000). Of patients with CPG, 5.8% received ≥1 phototherapy application vs. 1.2% of patients with CPR.<br />Conclusions: These findings reflect the reality of care and can form a basis for the identification of overuse, underuse, and misuse in order to design CPG and CPR healthcare more effectively and efficiently.<br /> (© 2022 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1421-9832
Volume :
238
Issue :
4
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland)
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
35176747
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1159/000520863