Characteristics and determinants of patient burden and needs in the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria.

BACKGROUND Treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is founded on evidence-based guidelines. However, specific patient needs and benefits of therapy have not been outlined at the guideline level. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to characterise the specific needs and treatment goals in chronic spontaneous urticaria from the patient's perspective. MATERIALS AND METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted in four German outpatient dermatology clinics. Patient needs and potential therapy goals were determined with the validated Patient Needs Questionnaire (PNQ) using a specific version for chronic urticaria. Further instruments to characterise the link between patient needs and disease burden were disease-specific (CU-Q2oL), skin-generic (DLQI) and health-generic (EQ VAS) scales. RESULTS Data from 103 patients were analysed (age: 43.92 ± 14.96 years; 71.4% female). Among the most important therapeutic goals were the absence of visible skin lesions (92.3% important/very important), to be free of itching (91.5%) and the desire to be healed of all skin defects (89.5%). All 26 items were found to be quite important/very important by at least 30% of the respondents. Specific profiles of patient needs were found to be related to sex and disease duration. CONCLUSION Innovative drugs and patient-centred individualised treatment may increase overall benefits. Regardless of the treatment chosen, shared decision making in the management of the disease should be a goal.