OBJECTIVES: Atopic dermatitis (AD) presents significant burden to caregivers of pediatric patients with AD. Studies of caregiver burden in pediatric disease that reported caregiver disutility, and pediatric health technology assessment appraisals that included caregiver utility values in their economic evaluations, provide limited data on caregiver utility. The aim of this study was to report utility estimates in caregivers of pediatric AD populations in the UK using data from a real-world survey.
METHODS: The Epidemiology of Children with Atopic Dermatitis Reporting on Their Experience (EPI-CARE) international survey was conducted in patients (6 months to <18 years) and their caregivers. Patients fulfilled all items of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood criteria for AD and self-reported a physician diagnosis of eczema. Caregivers completed the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire to report their quality of life. Utility weights were calculated using the UK crosswalk algorithm. Student’s T-test was used to compare mild and moderate-to-severe AD groups with severity based on patient global assessment with a 7-day recall period.
RESULTS: Across all age groups there was a statistically significant mean utility difference of 0.07 (p<0.01) for caregivers of patients with moderate-to-severe AD (n=192) versus mild AD (n=355). For caregivers of adolescents (12 to <18 years old), the utility difference increased to 0.13 (p<0.01; moderate-to-severe n=79, mild n=130). Lower utility differences were observed in caregivers of younger age groups (<6 years = 0.00; 6 to <12 years = 0.05) and differences were not statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, a utility gain of 0.07 could be applied in cost-effectiveness analysis for caregivers of pediatric patients with AD that respond to a treatment versus those that do not, in order to fully capture the benefit of effective treatment. The utility gain is largest in caregivers of adolescents with AD (0.13).
