INTRODUCTION: Real-world data on demographics and clinical characteristics of patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) are limited. We described patient characteristics, clinical symptoms, and comorbidities in US patients with newly-diagnosed EoE.
METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 2017–2021 US MarketScan Commercial and Medicare administrative claims data including EoE patients with ≥12 months’ continuous health plan enrollment pre- and post-first observed EoE diagnosis (index date). Demographic characteristics, clinical symptoms, and comorbidities pre-index in patients with incident (newly diagnosed) EoE were reported overall and stratified by age at EoE index date: <12 years (children), ≥12–17 years (adolescents) and ≥18 years (adults). Statistics were descriptive.
RESULTS: 12,694 patients with incident EoE were identified and included (63.5% male; mean [SD] age 38.2 [16.5] years). The most common symptoms observed pre-index were dysphagia (38.0%), acid reflux (36.5%), and abdominal pain (25.9%). Mean (SD) days from first recorded chest pain and abdominal pain diagnosis to EoE diagnosis were 150.1 (114.6) and 146.3 (114.9), respectively, longer than EoE-specific symptoms such as dysphagia (82 [90.2]). Time from onset of dysphagia to EoE diagnosis was shorter in adults than in children and adolescents. Common comorbidities at index are presented in the Figure. Children and adolescents have a higher frequency of concomitant allergic diseases compared with adults.
DISCUSSION: The presence of concomitant diseases and symptoms such as dysphagia and abdominal pain suggests a high disease burden. Comorbidities, presence of non-specific symptoms, duration of symptoms and patient age should be considered for a timely diagnosis of EoE.
