Jorien van der Schaft, Welmoed W. Keijzer, Koos J.G. Sanders, Jette J.C. de Groot, Donna L.C.M. van den Bersselaar, Harmieke van Os-Medendorp, Margreet M. van Doorn-op den Akker, Carla A.F.M. Bruijnzeel-Koomen, Marjolein S. de Bruin-Weller
DOI: 10.2340/00015555-2410

An inpatient treatment and education programme has been developed for patients with difficult to control atopic dermatitis (AD), with the aim of achieving adequate self-management and long-term disease control. This observational study included adult patients diagnosed with difficult to control AD, admitted for a structured inpatient treatment and education programme. The primary outcome was the Six Area, Six Sign Atopic Dermatitis (SASSAD) score. In total, 79 patients (mean±SD age 38.8±17.1 years) were included. The median duration of hospitalization was 11 days (interquartile range 8–14). The mean percentage decrease in SASSAD score between admission and discharge was 60.7%, of which 64 (81.0%) patients achieved SASSAD50. The mean percentage decrease in SASSAD score was 69.0% during follow-up, of which 63 (79.7%) patients still had a SASSAD50. In the majority of these patients with difficult to control AD the admission resulted in sustained disease control. This could be achieved by optimization of treatment with topical corticosteroids.