Impact of dupilumab on quality of life in kids 6 months to 5 years

Research has continually shown that dupilumab is an effective and safe treatment for atopic dermatitis in children aged 6 months to 5 years. An abstract presented by Andreas Wollenberg, dermatologist, allergist, and professor of Dermatology and Allergy, Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich, Germany, at the Revolutionizing Atopic Dermatitis meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, highlighted the impact of the biologic in improving the quality of life of children in this age group.

The children in the abstract who were given dupilumab once every 4 weeks and the dosage was dependent on their weight. They were also allowed to have steroids during the intervention. In patients aged <4 years, the Infants’ Dermatitis Quality of Life score was about the same in both groups at the start (17.1 in placebo plus topical corticosteroid [TCS], 17.4 in dupilumab plus TCS), after just 2 weeks the score for dupilumab had dropped to 10.7 and reached 6.3 by week 16. In comparison, the placebo was 15.0 at week 2 and 15.3 at week 16. Similar results were noted in the Children’s Dermatitis Quality of Life scores in children aged ≥ 4 years, dupilumab plus TCS started at 17.5 and the placebo plus TCS started at 17.7. By week 2, dupilumab had a score of 12.6 and 7.5 at week 16. Placebo dropped to 15.3 in week 2 and was 15.0 by week 16. In both age groups, the week 16 scores for dupilumab were slightly higher than the lowest scores recorded: 6.6 for children aged <4 years and 6.6 for children aged ≥ 4 years. Although in both dupilumab groups, atopic dermatitis was still considered to have moderate impact on quality of life, they were both significantly better than the placebo groups that still had scores in the high impact on quality of life quartile.

The research also looked at the Dermatitis Family Impact score to examine how the treatment affected the quality of life in the family. As with the child’s own quality of life, the scores were about the same for dupilumab plus TCS (17.2) and the placebo plus TCS (17.6). Improvement was seen in the dupilumab group by week 2 (11.9) and by week 4, the score was 9.1 and in the low impact on quality of life quartile. The scores continued to decline, reaching 6.9 by week 16. In comparison, the lowest score reached in the placebo group was 14.1 at week 8.

Wollenburg concluded his presentation by emphasizing that treating atopic dermatitis in children aged 6 months to 5 years with dupilumab plus a TCS leads to rapid and significant improvement in the quality of life for not only the child, but the caregiver as well.

This article was originally published by sister publication Dermatology Times.

Reference

Wollenberg A. Dupilumab treatment improves health-related quality of life in children aged 6 months to 5 years with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. Abstract presented at: Revolutionizing Atopic Dermatitis Meeting; April 11, 2022; Baltimore, MD.