Adult Patients with Alopecia Areata Report Significantly Better Medication Adherence Compared to Those with Atopic Dermatitis: Results from a Large Cross-Sectional Cohort Study

April 2024 in “ JAAD International ”

Mischa J Mallbris, Lea K. Nymand, Y.M.F. Andersen, Alexander Egeberg

alopecia areata atopic dermatitis medication adherence AA AD MA

TLDR Adults with alopecia areata stick to their medication better than those with atopic dermatitis.

The study found that adult patients with alopecia areata (AA) have significantly better medication adherence (MA) than those with atopic dermatitis (AD), with a mean MARS-5 score of 21.81 for AA versus 18.29 for AD. The odds of higher MA were nearly 4 times greater for AA patients. Men showed higher adherence than women, and disease severity did not affect MA. The stability of AA symptoms may lead to better adherence, while the sporadic nature of AD symptoms could hinder it. The study included 459 AA patients and 2872 AD patients, highlighting the importance of understanding patient characteristics and gender differences to improve treatment adherence.

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