Prevalence of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and access to supportive care in cancer in Brazil, China, France, Russia and the USA.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of treatment with radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy in the general adult population of five countries (Brazil, China, France, Russia and the USA) and to evaluate the use of different Supportive Care in Cancer (SCC) services. METHODS: A total of 11,100 individuals representing the general population over 18 years of age were recruited from the five countries via a rigorous quota sampling method. RESULTS: There are between 4.1% and 8.78% of respondents reported having undergone medical cancer treatment. Among these subpopulations, the use of at least one SCC was reported by 63% to 86% of respondents. The most commonly used SCC was psychological counselling in France, dietary counselling in Brazil and China, participating in a focus group in the USA and using alternative medicine in Russia. Alternative medicines were chosen by 50% to 61% of patients in every country. CONCLUSION: This study provides information on the prevalence of patients treated by chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy in representative populations from five countries. Among them, SCC was widely used. However, these uses varied both in proportion and choice, given the cultural differences in patients' and families' health beliefs and values, differences among organisations, in available resources and in ethics and policies among countries.

Association of Sensitive Eyes with Sensitive Skin: A Worldwide Study of 10,743 Subjects.

INTRODUCTION: Sensitive eyes are commonly reported by patients, but there are very few epidemiological studies on this disorder. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the self-reported frequency of sensitive eyes and the association with sensitive skin. METHODS: A survey was performed on a representative sample of the population aged more than 18 years in five different countries (Brazil, China, France, Russia, and the USA). All participants answered a questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics; skin phototype; eye color; tobacco consumption; exposure to sunlight, air pollution, or having pets; and sleep disorders. The presence of sensitive eyes, eyelids, or skin and their triggering factors were assessed with specific questions. RESULTS: A total of 10,743 individuals (5,285 men and 5,458 women) were included in the study. Among them, 48.2% reported having sensitive skin and 46.0% reported having sensitive eyes. Sensitive eyes were more frequently reported by women (46.5%) than men (39.4%) in all countries, with the exception of China. The presence of sensitive eyes was more frequent if skin was very sensitive. More than half of subjects with sensitive eyes declared that their triggering factors were exposure to sunlight, dust, touch pad screens, or computer screens or dry air. They were more exposed to pollution and tobacco. Their phototype (including eye color) was lighter. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: This large study shows that self-declared sensitive eyes are very frequent and commonly associated with sensitive skin. Triggering factors of sensitive eyes are more specific.

Cost-effectiveness of Emollients in the Prevention of Relapse among French Patients with Atopic Dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis affects up to 20% of children and quite frequently persists in adulthood. Follow-up, treatment, and prevention of relapses have an impact on healthcare spending. The aim of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of different emollients prescribed for patients with atopic dermatitis in France. A 3-health state Markov model was designed, using French data for resource utilization, price and transition probabilities. The effects of the use of 5 different emollients (A, B, C, D, E) or no emollient were compared. The selected outcome was time (years) without flare-up (YWFU). The 5-year cost for emollient A is 1,575.64€, and the effectiveness is 3.89 YWFU. Strategy A is the most effective. Compared with treatment E, which was the least expensive emollient, A is more expensive (+481.84€) and more effective (0.082 YWFU). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio is 5,877.48€/YWFU. In conclusion, treating atopic dermatitis with emollients is a cost-effective strategy.

Influence of Skin Subjective Symptoms on Sleep Quality in Patients with Cutaneous Disorders: A Study of 2871 Subjects.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies showed more sleep disturbance (SD) in patients with cutaneous disorders (CD). During CD, unpleasant subjective symptoms [USS], such as itch, pain and others (tingling, burning, or tightness) have a negative influence on sleep quality. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of SD in CD patients and to identify the influence of itch, pain and other unpleasant sensations on SD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An international, anonymized real-life survey was conducted with individuals [18-75 years], with physician-confirmed CD, or without CD. The 25 items covered sociodemographic characteristics, feeling of overall sleep quality and skin unpleasant sensations. Severity of SD and unpleasant sensations were assessed using a 10-cm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). RESULTS: From 3834 analyzed questionnaires, 2871 (67.3%) were in the CD group and 863 (32.7%) in the control group. Patients with CD had significantly more SD (71.2% vs 32.7% in the control group, p<0.0001). CD patients without any reported unpleasant sensation were at higher risk for SD than control subjects (OR 1,362 [95% CI 1.975-2.405] p=0.0013). SS were highly associated with SD (OR 1.641 [95% CI 1.393-1.933] p<0.0001). Pruritus, pain and intermediate sensations were significant predictors of SD, with odds ratios of 1.670, 1.625 and 1.326, respectively. VAS sleep scores were strongly associated with pruritus (r: 0.25, p<0.0001) and pain (r: 0.25 p<0.0001) severity ratings. DISCUSSION: SD is a common problem for patients with CD. Patients with subjective symptoms suffer more from SD, suggesting that they are aggravating factors, but are likely not the only reason for SD in CD patients. We found that during CD, intermediate sensations also contribute to SD. Despite some limitations and the potential bias due to the study design, our results confirm for the first time on an international level the influence of subjective symptoms on sleep quality in patients with CD.