.
The management of atopic dermatitis requires the use of emollients to combat xerosis. The aim of our study was to assess the direct medical cost of emollients in Ouagadougou We conducted a cost evaluation study from the patient's point of view in five health facilities in the city of Ouagadougou (2 public and 3 private) treat ing patients with atopic dermatitis from 1 February to 30 April 2024, and in 3 pharmacies. We enrolled a total of 114 patients, 45 in private health facilities, 35 of whom had health insurance covering emollients for 11.63% of them. The mean age of the patients was 7.95 ± 12.16 years, and the mean duration of an attack was 7.41 days, with extremes of 2 and 21 days. Mild symptoms were reported in 74.56% of patients. Cream was the galenic form prescribed for emollients in 76.92% of cases, with an average of 500 ml bottle used per month. The average unit purchase cost of the emollient was 10,600 CFA francs, with extremes of 2,000 and 30,000 CFA francs. The emollient prescribed in public facilities cost 8478 CFA francs compared with 14146 CFA francs in private facilities, with a significant difference p=0.0001; the emollient cost 12672 CFA francs for insured patients compared with 9414 CFA francs for uninsured patients, with a significant difference (p 0.0182). The use of emollients was discontinued by 38.60% of patients because of the high cost, of which 65.91% came from public structures, and replaced by shea butter by 28.95%. In the 3 pharmacies visited, the average number of emollients sold on advice was 8 bottles per day, 50 per week and 212 per month. Atopic dermatitis was generally mild in severity, requiring 500 ml of emollient per month, the cost of which was equivalent to a third of the country’s minimum wage, leading to discontinuation in more than a third of patients. Alternation was sought through the use of local products such as shea butter.

Direct medical cost of emollient, atopic dermatitis