Disease Course, Treatment Patterns and Goals Among Patients with Non-segmental Vitiligo Across Europe and the United States

Abstract

Introduction: There is currently a lack of research regarding disease course and burden as well as treatment patterns and goals in patients with non-segmental vitiligo (NSV). The aim of this analysis was to evaluate disease course, treatment patterns and goals in patients with NSV.

Methods: This analysis used secondary data from the Adelphi Real World Vitiligo Disease Specific Programme™ 2021, specifically, a survey of physicians and their adult and adolescent patients with NSV. Physicians categorized patients by the extent of NSV at time of survey completion as mild, moderate or severe/very severe. Physician-reported patient information included demographics, current/previously prescribed NSV therapies, treatment satisfaction and the Vitiligo Noticeability Scale (VNS). Patients completed a survey on treatment satisfaction and the VNS. Treatment pattern data were stratified by disease extent and Fitzpatrick skin type.

Results: At survey completion, physicians reported that 38, 50 and 12% of patients (N = 1865) had improving, stable and deteriorating/progressing disease, respectively. Most patients (96%) with mild disease at treatment initiation still had mild disease at the time of survey completion. More than half of patients with moderate disease (62%) or severe/very severe disease (57%) at treatment initiation still had moderate or severe/very severe disease at survey completion. Topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCIs) were the most common treatment in 40% of patients followed by phototherapy in 30%. Patients hoped for re-pigmentation (mild 56%, moderate 62%, severe/very severe 66%), reduction (mild 50%, moderate 56%, severe/very severe 49%) or cessation of affected areas with vitiligo (mild 48%, moderate 54%, severe/very severe 43%).

Conclusion: The study findings indicate that a significant proportion of patients with NSV are not improving on current treatments, most commonly TCIs and phototherapy. The results highlight the unmet need for novel and effective therapies to substantially improve re-pigmentation, an important treatment goal for patients with NSV.