Dupilumab Significantly Enhances Quality of Life and Reduces Cumulative Impairment in Patients with Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis

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New evidence suggests that dupilumab (Dupixent; Regeneron and Sanofi) not only alleviates the physical symptoms of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD) but also substantially improves various facets of patients’ everyday lives. The data, presented as a poster at the 2025 Revolutionizing Atopic Dermatitis Conference held in Nashville, Tennessee, reported improvements in quality of life, including mental health and social functioning.¹

Background and Methods

Given the persistent symptoms and significant disease burden of AD,² this often leads to what clinicians refer to as cumulative life course impairment (CLCI).³ CLCI encompasses the long-term, often irreversible impacts on education, employment, family life, mental health, and social engagement resulting from ongoing disease activity.

Despite the widespread use of biologics such as dupilumab, there is limited data on how effective treatment may mitigate these broader life impacts. To address this gap, the research team conducted a qualitative, in-depth analysis involving 50 adult patients with moderate to severe AD who had been treated with dupilumab.

The study involved semi-structured interviews analyzed using qualitative software (ATLAS.ti), aiming to identify common themes and quantifiable patient-reported outcomes related to life improvements following treatment. Participants were interviewed individually for up to an hour, focusing on their experiences before and after initiating therapy across various domains, including relationships, employment, mental health, leisure activities, and social participation.

Findings

Results showed notable enhancements across multiple life domains post-dupilumab initiation. For instance, 92% of patients reported improved daily life and leisure activities, while 62% experienced less medication burden.

Patients also noted greater freedom in clothing choices (42%) and improved diet due to fewer food allergies or reactions (62%). Psychologically, participants experienced decreases in stress, anxiety, depression, and stigma, with 66% reporting increased happiness and 78% citing reduced stress or worry.

Socially, more than a quarter noted easier pathways to making friends (26%) and initiating romantic relationships (28%). Moreover, improvements extended to family life and personal well-being; 36% cited better interactions, and 16% observed positive effects on friendships.

Overall, belief in the therapy’s broad benefits was strong, emphasizing that beyond symptom relief, patients felt more confident, engaged, and hopeful.

The data collection emphasized responses where at least 6% of participants reported noteworthy improvements, highlighting the comprehensive scope of dupilumab's impact.

Conclusions and Future Directions

Findings from this qualitative analysis suggest that dupilumab’s benefits extend well beyond skin symptom control, addressing long-standing, often overlooked aspects of patient quality of life associated with CLCI.

However, some limitations exist, including reliance on patient self-reporting and potential recall bias.

Future research may explore longitudinal effects, optimal timing of intervention, and the potential for early biologic therapy to prevent or reverse CLCI. Additionally, integrating patient-reported outcomes into clinical practice can help tailor treatment plans to target broader life impacts, ultimately improving holistic patient care.

"Early use of effective AD treatment in patients with moderate to severe AD may reduce the effects of CLCI," wrote poster authors Kimball et al.

References

1. Kimball AB, Martins B, Holub A, et al. Impact of dupilumab on the lives of patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. Poster presented at: 2025 Revolutionizing Atopic Dermatitis (RAD) Conference; June 6-7, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee.
2. Fasseeh AN, Elezbawy B, Korra N, et al. Burden of atopic dermatitis in adults and ddolescents: a systematic literature review. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2022;12(12):2653-2668. doi:10.1007/s13555-022-00819-6
3. von Stülpnagel CC, Augustin M, Düpmann L, da Silva N, Sommer R. Mapping risk factors for cumulative life course impairment in patients with chronic skin diseases - a systematic review. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2021;35(11):2166-2184. doi:10.1111/jdv.17348