Prevalence, Incidence and Treatment Patterns of Prurigo Nodularis in England: A Retrospective Database Analysis

• Published in: British journal of dermatology (1951) Vol. 191; no. 4; p. 548
• Main Authors: Bahloul, Donia, Hudson, Richard, Balogh, Orsolya, Mathias, Elgan, Heywood, Ben, Hubbuck, Ellen, Diribe, Onyinye, McDonald, Robert, Bewley, Anthony
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 04-06-2024
• ISSN: 0007-0963; 1365-2133; 1365-2133
• DOI: 10.1093/bjd/ljae207

Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a pruritic skin disease characterised by multiple, intensely itchy skin nodules in symmetrically distributed areas of the extremities. There are very limited studies on the epidemiology and treatment pathways for PN, especially moderate-to-severe PN, from England.
To assess the epidemiology and treatment pathways of mild and moderate-to-severe PN in England.
This retrospective cohort study used data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) and Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) in England. Adult patients (≥18 years) with a PN specific diagnosis code any time between 1 April 2007 and 1 March 2019 (patient identification period) were selected. Patients were included if their first PN diagnostic code (index diagnosis date, IDD) was recorded during the identification period, with data available 6 months pre- and ≥12 months post-IDD. Patients were classified into moderate-to-severe PN (MSPN) or mild PN (MiPN) based on the presence or absence of a prescription record, post IDD, for either a systemic immunosuppressant or a gabapentinoid. Patients with MSPN and MiPN were matched 1:1 for age, gender and IDD. Prevalence and incidence were calculated for each year from 2007 to 2019. Drugs prescribed post IDD were analysed.
A total of 8,933 patients (MSPN: 2,498 patients; MiPN: 6,539 patients) were included for the study; 2,462 patients each with MiPN and MSPN were included for the comparative analysis. Atopic dermatitis, asthma and eosinophilic oesophagitis were significantly higher (all p<0.001) in patients with MSPN (vs MiPN). The prevalence of overall PN cases increased during the study period. The incidence rate also showed a similar trend. The rates of prescription of potent and super potent topical corticosteroids (TCS), topical calcineurin inhibitors, first- and second- generation antihistamines, oral and injectable systemic corticosteroid, methotrexate, antidepressants and tacrolimus were significantly higher (all p <0.001) in patients with MSPN (vs MiPN).
The epidemiology of PN was consistent with other European studies. Patients with MSPN received a significantly higher number of prescriptions for potent TCS and systemic drugs, as compared with milder patients.