Bayer: Patient focus vital in atopic dermatitis treatment

Bayer has published the findings of an expert panel who have concluded that patient focus is a key success factor in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.

The company said treatment success should be considered from a patient’s perspective, rather than a purely clinical point of view, as atopic dermatitis can significantly compromise the quality of life of both children and adults.

A satellite symposium sponsored by Intendis held during the congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venerology in Paris said physicians must work with patients to boost compliance.

It added drugs with excellent safety profiles which effectively treat the condition must be available in a broad range of formulations to suit all levels of the disease and all skin types.

These include Advantan, (methylprednisolone aceponate), a non-halogenated, diester corticosteroid and modern glucocorticosteroid.

Professor Thomas Ruzicka from Munich, Germany, said: “Especially in atopic dermatitis we need to work with our patients to find the solution to the attainment of long-term compliance.”

In April 2008, the BBC reported the NHS has seen significant reductions in waiting times for treatment for skin conditions like dermatitis and eczema over the last decade, the average time spent by patients seeking therapy for some cancers has increased.