Racial, ethnic, and biologic sex disparities in outpatient laboratory monitoring of isotretinoin use : a cross-sectional study

© 2023 the International Society of Dermatology..

BACKGROUND: Isotretinoin is commonly used for the treatment of acne. Despite high efficacy, isotretinoin has a side effect profile that prompts regular outpatient laboratory monitoring. Emerging evidence suggests clinically significant lab abnormalities are rare. Racial, ethnic, and biologic sex disparities in laboratory monitoring of isotretinoin have yet to be characterized.

METHODS: This study explores disparities in laboratory monitoring of patients prescribed isotretinoin, factoring in the COVID-19 pandemic given its impacts on laboratory monitoring. Two populations were evaluated: all patients taking isotretinoin, and patients taking isotretinoin with no metabolic, cardiovascular, hematologic, hepatic, or renal comorbidities. The latter population was included to screen out patients who might receive increased laboratory testing for conditions besides isotretinoin use.

RESULTS: Our data reveal that African-American, Asian, and Hispanic patients prescribed isotretinoin were more likely than Caucasian patients to receive orders for outpatient laboratory monitoring. These disparities persisted independent of comorbidities that may prompt additional testing, suggesting that non-Caucasian patients bear an additional testing burden even when their comorbidities were matched to their peers. Disparities persisted in the setting of reduced laboratory monitoring due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

CONCLUSIONS: These data reveal that patients of color are more likely to receive outpatient laboratory monitoring for isotretinoin prescriptions. There is an opportunity for testing standardization to improve medication access, decrease burden and costs for patients and the healthcare system, and decrease racial disparities in prescribing and monitoring of isotretinoin. Dermatology clinics may benefit from standard operating procedures outlining for whom regular monitoring is needed.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2024

Erschienen:

2024

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:63

Enthalten in:

International journal of dermatology - 63(2024), 4 vom: 04. März, Seite 481-483

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Manoharan, Divya [VerfasserIn]
Nkansah-Mahaney, Nancy [VerfasserIn]
Chien, Anna [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Biological Products
Dermatologic Agents
EH28UP18IF
Isotretinoin
Journal Article

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 22.03.2024

Date Revised 22.03.2024

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1111/ijd.16961

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM365993026