Risk Factors Associated with Weight Gain during Treatment with Dupilumab among Patients with Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis

Acta Derm Venereol. 2024 Nov 15:104:adv40796. doi: 10.2340/actadv.v104.40796.

Abstract

This cohort study used prospectively collected data from the Swedish national quality registry, SwedAD, to investigate weight gain as a possible side effect of dupilumab treatment for atopic dermatitis. Patients on dupilumab were compared with patients on other systemic medications, e.g., methotrexate, cyclosporine, or Janus kinase inhibitors, and possible risk factors for weight change during treatment with dupilumab were analysed. All patients aged 18 years or above, included in SwedAD between March 2018 and April 2023, who initiated systemic treatment at or after inclusion and had data on weight at baseline and at least 1 follow-up weight measurement were included (n = 157). After 2 years on dupilumab, patients had a mean weight gain of 1.6 kg (p = 0.007, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.4-2.7). In the multivariable analysis, controlling for age at start, sex, asthma, and body mass index at start, dupilumab was associated with higher weight gain than other systemic treatments (3.3 kg, p = 0.005 [95% CI 1.0-5.6]). Asthma was associated with weight loss; male sex tended to be associated with weight gain.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized* / adverse effects
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized* / therapeutic use
  • Dermatitis, Atopic* / drug therapy
  • Dermatologic Agents / adverse effects
  • Dermatologic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Registries*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sex Factors
  • Sweden / epidemiology
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Weight Gain* / drug effects
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • dupilumab
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Dermatologic Agents

Grants and funding

Funding sources The Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association’s Research Fund, Hudfonden (The Welander-Finsen Foundation), the Stockholm County Council (ALF grants), KI Foundation & Funds, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Swedish Research Council (2022-02743).