Real-world adherence to topical therapies in patients with moderate acne.

BACKGROUND

Real-life data on topical treatments in daily practice in patients with moderate acne are poorly characterized.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the drug survival of topical treatments administered to patients with moderate acne in a daily practice.

METHODS

Survival analysis was performed on subjects (Belgian university hospital and private practice outpatient dermatology patients) with moderate acne who received topical therapies according to the current published guidelines.

RESULTS

A total of 1160 treatment series (1029 patients) were included, including benzoyl peroxide (BPO, n = 93), azelaic acid (n = 246), adapalene (n = 254), a fixed combination of adapalene 0.1% and BPO 2.5% (A/BPO, n = 264), and a fixed combination of clindamycin 1.2% and tretinoin 0.025% gel (Clin-RA, n = 303). The calculated overall median treatment duration of all drugs was 2 months. The probability of treatment discontinuation after only 3 months was 50%. Overall, the drugs were discontinued for the following reasons: controlled acne (9%), side effects (9%), ineffectiveness (52%), combination of side effects and ineffectiveness (3%), and other reasons (1%). Overall, 27% patients were lost to follow-up.

LIMITATIONS

The post hoc study design and generalizability limit interpretation of the data.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the median treatment duration of topical anti-acne therapies was short (2 months). The main reason for discontinuation was ineffectiveness.