{"id":4747,"date":"2023-09-13T09:00:17","date_gmt":"2023-09-13T09:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/integratedcarejournal.com\/?p=4747"},"modified":"2023-10-06T14:12:26","modified_gmt":"2023-10-06T14:12:26","slug":"people-severe-eczema-face-hidden-cost-living-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/integratedcarejournal.com\/people-severe-eczema-face-hidden-cost-living-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"People with severe eczema face a hidden cost of living crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"
Nearly everybody has felt the pressures of the cost-of-living crisis. Prices rising, bills soaring, and having to do more with less. This is a real concern for so many, but it\u2019s even worse for people living with uncontrolled atopic eczema, who have to contend with additional costs, both direct and indirect, which are causing a significant strain on both individuals and the healthcare system<\/a>.<\/p>\n Atopic eczema \u2013 known medically as atopic dermatitis<\/a> (AD) \u2013 is the most common form of eczema in the UK, affecting 5-10 per cent of all adults, and causing the skin to become itchy; during a flare-up it can become red, cracked and sore. From the financial costs of medications to an increased risk of developing depression, the costs of uncontrolled eczema<\/a> to many people living with the condition are wide-ranging and detrimental to their quality of life, particularly for people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.<\/p>\n Eczema can often be overlooked as a healthcare issue by the general public, and Sanofi recognises the significance of highlighting the genuine effects on the individual that it can cause. Sanofi\u2019s aim is to increase awareness and shine a light on the true cost of the condition. So, we commissioned leading cross-party think tank Demos to produce a report which analyses the impact that uncontrolled atopic eczema has on patients, the NHS and wider society.<\/p>\n The Costs of Atopic Dermatitis<\/em> report<\/a>, published in April 2023, draws on an evidence review of UK and international literature, interviews with clinicians in England and the experiences of people living with eczema to examine the costs, the current state of patient care and how patient care can be improved.<\/p>\n The report provides insights into the costs borne by people living with uncontrolled eczema. This financial burden is far more significant than many might expect. One clinician Demos interviewed said that sometimes patients with lower socioeconomic status have to make a choice between paying for medication or buying food<\/a>. This cost to society goes beyond just the healthcare system, hitting the economy as a whole. In the UK, the indirect costs of work impairment to the economy for adult patients with moderate-to-severe atopic eczema is estimated to be between \u00a36,741-\u00a314,166<\/a> per patient, per year.<\/p>\n But why does it cost so much? Firstly, people living with severe eczema have to spend money on both medical and non-medical item<\/a>s<\/a> such as medicines, emollients and moisturizers. The impact the condition has on their ability to work also adds to the personal financial cost. Patients with severe, uncontrolled atopic eczema often need to take additional sick days and they may even lose work because of their condition. Then there are the intangible costs: people living with eczema may have to deal with sleep impairment and other mental health issues<\/a> exacerbated by the irritation and appearance of their skin.<\/p>\n There is an impact on the NHS too. The direct cost of mild-to-moderate eczema to the health service was estimated as being at least \u00a3257m in 2020, though there have been no comprehensive studies encompassing the costs of severe atopic eczema. It is estimated that around 15-20 per cent of GPs\u2019 workload is dermatology, with a large quantity of that work being eczema.<\/p>\n
\nThe financial burden of eczema<\/h3>\n
\nReforming dermatology pathways<\/h3>\n