A fixed-dose combination of adapalene 0.1%-BPO 2.5% allows an early and sustained improvement in quality of life and patient treatment satisfaction in severe acne.

INTRODUCTION

Acne has a significant negative impact on quality of life (QoL): lack of self-confidence, depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts. The objective was to assess the impact of an initial and continued therapy in severe acne patients through patient-related outcomes (PRO).

METHODS

In two sequential double-blind randomized studies, patients received either adapalene 0.1% and benzoyl peroxide 2.5% (A-BPO) or vehicle, associated with doxycycline 100 mg for 12 weeks. Patients having obtained at least a good improvement according to investigator global assessment were re-randomized for a 24-week therapy with A-BPO or vehicle. PROs were assessed using the Acne-QoL and a patient treatment satisfaction questionnaire.

RESULTS

QoL was improved at week 12 in all domains with a significant difference for the Acne-symptoms domain (p < 0.001) in favor of the A-BPO regimen. Additional 24-week A-BPO treatment showed a sustained improvement, significant (p < 0.001) for all domains except for Acne-symptoms. In the vehicle arm, QoL significantly worsened for all domains (p < 0.03). At weeks 12 and 36, a significantly higher proportion of patients receiving A-BPO vs. vehicle reported high satisfaction for five out of six treatment satisfaction items.

CONCLUSIONS

The early and sustained improvement of these PROs is correlated to the fast onset of action of A-BPO, the treatment effectiveness and a good safety profile.