Eosinophilic esophagitis patients report substantial disease burden comparable to more systemic immune-mediated diseases.

BACKGROUND

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic Type 2 inflammation. One might assume that the disease-related impact on daily life is significantly smaller, given the relatively localized disease distribution, compared to more systemic immune-mediated diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the disease burden among various immune-mediated diseases, including EoE, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), systemic sclerosis (SSC) and lupus erythematosus (SLE).

METHODS

A web-based questionnaire assessed baseline characteristics, general quality of life and disease-related impairment across several subdomains, including work, leisure and social life. The surveys were distributed by the respective Swiss patient organizations.

RESULTS

Overall, 608 patients participated in the survey (EoE: 92; IBD: 407; SSC: 69; and SLE: 40). Although the overall perceived general impairment in everyday life, measured on a numeric rating scale (NRS), was higher in Crohn's disease (CD), SSC, and SLE patients compared to EoE (median 3, IQR 2-6), there was no significant difference compared to ulcerative colitis (UC) (median 4, IQR 2-6, p = 0.31) or IBD patients overall (median 5, IQR 3-6; p = 0.05; Fig. 1a). Impairment in EoE was most pronounced and in the subdomain of leisure, consistent with other investigated diseases. Disease-related impairment was higher in women versus men and in patients with a longer diagnostic delay across all diseases.

CONCLUSIONS

EoE patients' perceived impairment in everyday life, particularly within subdomains such as leisure, is substantial and comparable to that experienced by patients with other immune-mediated disease states, including IBD. Notably, patient-perceived impairment was higher among female EoE patients and those with a longer diagnostic delay.