Exploring Factors That Influence the Measurement of Patient-Reported Impacts of Alopecia Areata

Le résumé fourni par la source

The ALLEGRO- 2b/3 (Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT03732807) study demonstrated efficacy and safety of ritlecitinib in patients with alopecia areata (AA). Despite clinically meaningful improvement in hair regrowth, differences in patient-reported emotional symptoms or activity limitations (subscales of the Alopecia Areata Patient Priority Outcomes [AAPPO]) between treatment groups were not significant. This study aimed to identify potential factors that may impact the measurement of patient-reported outcomes in AA. This mixed methods study conducted remote interviews with individuals with self-reported AA. Interviews were designed to understand how experiences with AA impacted study participant health-related quality of life and gain insights into how historical personal circumstances and individual characteristics might impact AAPPO responses. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic and content analytical processes; quantitative data were analyzed descriptively. Qualitative analysis of interview transcripts of 30 adults with AA (seeking or had received AA treatment) yielded three overarching themes: mechanisms of adaptation (subthemes: behavioral and mental strategies), impact changes over disease journey (subthemes: hair loss and regrowth as an event and changes in impact over time after loss and/or regrowth), and underlying characteristics that moderate adaptation. Participants reported requiring 50–100% regrowth for 6–12 months before they would provide different AAPPO emotional and activity limitation responses. High levels of hair regrowth over a sustained period of time would be required to change AAPPO responses. Factors identified that may affect measurement of patient-reported psychosocial outcomes in AA included length of time since hair regrowth. Understanding factors that impact adaptation can help inform clinical practice and research. This study used interviews to explore the way people with alopecia areata, a disease that causes hair loss, saw their disease and what amount of hair regrowth was needed to feel less negative and not avoid activities. People with alopecia areata talked about ways they changed their behavior and thinking, how hair loss and regrowth felt, and how their personality helped their outlook. They wanted large amounts of hair regrowth for at least 6–12 months before feeling better or doing activities.

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