Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite a rising prevalence of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), real-world data on current management challenges remain limited. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate demographic and clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and health outcomes in patients with EoE. METHODS: Physicians from Canada, France, Germany, Spain, and the UK retrospectively reviewed records of patients (aged ≥12 years) who were newly diagnosed with EoE between January 2009 and December 2019. EoE diagnosis was confirmed by esophageal biopsy demonstrating a peak eosinophil count ≥15 eosinophils/high-power field (eos/hpf) within 90 days before or after the documented diagnosis (index). Included patients had ≥1 follow-up endoscopy with biopsy and known eosinophil count within 24 months. Data on demographics, clinical characteristics, treatment, and health outcomes were collected 12-month preindex to the last record entry/death. RESULTS: Overall, 415 patients [mean age (SD): 31.8 (14.6) years] were included. The mean (SD) diagnostic delay from symptom onset was 3.4 (4.8) years [median (range): 1.7 (0.7-4.0)]. The average eosinophil count was 41.4 eos/hpf; 80.2% of patients had endoscopic abnormalities of the esophagus at diagnosis. Post-EoE diagnosis, 77.1% of patients received proton-pump inhibitors, 68.2% swallowed topical corticosteroids, 48.4% made dietary modifications, and 18.8% had esophageal dilation. At diagnosis, 74.5% of patients had dysphagia and 46.0% had heartburn. After diagnosis, 63.5%, 62.2%, and 57.6% did not achieve histologic remission (<15 eos/hpf) at the first, second, and third endoscopy, respectively. CONCLUSION: Patients with EoE experience a substantial disease burden, with a significant delay in diagnosis. Achieving optimal disease control remains an unmet need with conventional nonbiologic therapies.