Patient Survey Highlights Importance of Itch Relief, Personalized Guidance in Atopic Dermatitis Treatment
RAD 2025: More than 80% of patients would want, or would consider, a test that would direct them towards a more effective therapy for their AD, according to new data.
Patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) prioritize itch control and skin clearance when selecting therapies and express interest in personalized treatment strategies, according to findings from a recent patient survey.
The 31-question survey was made available to 43 eligible attendees at the 2024 National Eczema Association Eczema Expo. Results showed that “a substantial number of patients with AD experience delayed diagnosis. Itch was the most important symptom that respondents desired their medication to address,” researchers wrote in the study abstract.
The study is to be presented at the Revolutionizing Atopic Dermatitis (RAD) Conference 2025, held June 6-7, 2025, in Nashville, TN.
In the context of increasing availability of FDA-approved targeted systemic therapies for AD, the study aimed to assess patient perspectives on treatment experiences, therapeutic priorities, and the perceived utility of molecular testing to guide treatment choice.
The IRB-exempt survey included 31 questions and was completed by 43 eligible respondents. Among participants, 74% were aged 18 to 64 years, 21% were under 18, and 5% were aged 65 years or older. Notably, 40% (n = 16) of respondents reported a previous misdiagnosis of AD, and 28% (n = 12) had undergone skin biopsy to confirm their diagnosis.
Across all treatment types, the top 3 therapeutic attributes cited as most important by patients were itch control (70%), skin clearance (58%), and safety or side effect profile (50%). Among the 22 respondents using targeted systemic therapies, 23% reported switching or adding a systemic agent, and 32% added a topical therapy to their regimen. The most common reasons cited for modifying systemic treatment were insufficient skin clearance and persistent itch.
Patients using systemic therapies reported variable satisfaction with treatment effectiveness. On a scale from 1% (treatment goals not met) to 100% (goals fully met), reported satisfaction ranged from 26% to 100%, with a median rating of 68%. This wide range reflects the heterogeneous nature of treatment response in AD and reinforces the challenges of therapy selection in routine practice.
More than 80% of participants indicated that they would want—or would consider—taking a molecular test to help identify the most effective targeted systemic therapy for their condition, suggesting strong patient interest in predictive tools to support shared decision-making.
These findings emphasize the variability in treatment outcomes for AD and the central role of symptom relief, particularly itch, in patient-perceived treatment success. The results also highlight a clear interest in more personalized approaches to therapy, particularly as the therapeutic landscape for AD continues to expand.
