BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Limited real-world nontertiary care evidence on the patient therapeutic journey and disease burden of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) exists. The aim was to collect real-world data on the EoE patient journey across different age groups.
METHODS: This retrospective, real-world, cohort study used electronic medical records and claims data provided by a rural integrated US healthcare system. Eligibility criteria included ≥ 2 diagnoses of EoE (2009-2018), ≥ 1 endoscopy, and ≥ 12 months of data before and after the index date (the first endoscopy date during the 180 days before and the 365 days after the first EoE diagnosis). Clinical findings, all-cause healthcare resource utilization, specialists consulted, therapies, and markers of disease progression were analyzed.
RESULTS: Overall, 613 patients were enrolled: 0-11 (children, n = 182), 12-17 (adolescents, n = 146), 18-54 (adults, n = 244), and ≥ 55 years old (older adults, n = 41). Post index, the prevalence of signs and symptoms increased. At baseline, most endoscopies were abnormal (80.5%) and most peak eosinophil counts were > 15 eosinophils/high-power field (87.9%); post index, all age groups had endoscopic and histologic improvements. However, 3 years post index, abnormal endoscopic appearance (62.3%) and histologic activity (51.2%) were observed. Patients of all ages exhibited considerable all-cause healthcare resource utilization. During follow-up, 86.3% of patients consulted a specialist. Before and after index, proton pump inhibitors and corticosteroids were the most commonly used pharmacological therapies; 44.0% of patients discontinued their first treatment post index. Disease progression occurred in 13.9% of patients post index.
CONCLUSION: In this setting, patients with EoE irrespective of age face difficult therapeutic journeys with substantial disease burden.
