Dupilumab improves sleep disturbance in patients with atopic dermatitis

Dupilumab led to significant improvements in self-reported sleep disturbance among patients with atopic dermatitis, according to study results presented during the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Hybrid Congress.

“These results were reflected in improvements in the duration and quality of sleep and quality of life and emphasize the need for assessing sleep disturbance in patients with atopic dermatitis,” the researchers wrote in the abstract.

Investigators sought to assess the effectiveness of dupilumab (Dupixent; Sanofi Genzyme, Regeneron) on sleep duration and quality of sleep among 16 patients (mean age, 36.5 years; 68.8% women; mean duration of atopic dermatitis, 31.5 years) residing in Portugal with severe atopic dermatitis.

Patients completed at least 52 weeks of treatment with dupilumab by March 2021 and self-reported sleep disturbance using the Athens Insomnia Scale and Numeric Rating Scale at baseline and at weeks 2, 4, 16, 24 and 52.

According to study results, the median baseline Athens Insomnia Scale-sleep score was 18, with 13 patients who self-reported insomnia.

Researchers observed significant improvements with dupilumab from week 4 to week 52, based on a median score of 1 (P < .05). By week 52, the median score for all eight items was zero, which corresponded to “no problem at all.”

Significant improvements were also reported by week 2 in awakenings during the night, final awakening earlier and quality of sleep (P < .05), as well as sleep induction, total sleep duration, well-being, functioning capacity and sleepiness during the day by week 4, with additional improvements through week 52 (P < .05).

Further, the median baseline Numeric Rating Scale-sleep score was 7 and researchers observed a significantly lower total score as early as week 2 through the end of treatment (median score, 1; P < .05).

A positive moderate correlation occurred between Athens Insomnia Scale-sleep and Dermatology Life Quality Index (r = .688; P = .041), with a significant correlation between Athens Insomnia Scale-sleep and Numeric Rating Scale-sleep at week 4 (r = .712; P = .009).