## 3 Results
### Treatments  
Treatments ever used, currently used (within the last 2 weeks), and suggested post-visit are summarized in Figure 4. Examining the systemic corticosteroid use in the last year prior to the visit, 36.5% (65/178) of the overall M2S-AD patients received at least two courses of systemic steroids. Specifically, 28.3% (32/113) of m-AD and 50.8% (33/65) of s-AD patients received \(\geq\)2 systemic steroid courses in the last year prior to the visit. Additional details of past treatments and patients' out-of-pocket expenses for the management of their disease are provided in Table S1.  
At the time of the visit, 82.1% of patients reported the use of at least one topical treatment (77.8% and 89.5% of m-AD and s-AD patients, respectively). Proactive use of topical corticosteroids (TCSs) was reported by 20.7% of the patients (18.8% of m-AD and 23.9% of s-AD patients). Proactive use was also noted for topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCIs) at a rate of 15.2%, which was more frequent in s-AD than m-AD patients (22.4% vs. 11.1%). Moreover, most M2S AD patients (51.3% in m-AD and 56.7% in s-AD) required special topical treatment regimens in specific areas of the body which were different to the topical treatments used in other body areas involved, adding to the complexity of topical treatments required. The proportion of patients receiving AD-specific systemic treatment (ST), including systemic steroids, within 2 weeks prior to the visit was 38.6%. Rates of recent AD-specific ST were higher among s-AD than m-AD patients (Figure 4).  
Figure 4: Treatments ever used, treatments used 2 weeks prior to expert center visit (current), and treatments selected by expert centers (post-visit), (**a**) in the overall M2S-AD population, (**b**) in the EASI-based moderate AD subpopulation, and (**c**) in the EASI-based severe/very severe AD subpopulation. AD, atopic dermatitis; Alt, alternative; AZA, azathioprine; EASI, Eczema Area and Severity Index; IS, immunosuppressive; M2S, moderate-to-severe; m-AD, moderate AD; MMF, mycophenolate moefti; MTX, methotrexate; NSSSS, non-steroidal immunosuppressants; s-AD, severe/very severe AD; TCI, topical calcineurin inhibitor; TCS, topical corticosteroid.  
Post-visit, 84.2% of patients were prescribed \(\geq\)1 topical treatment, with proactive TCS and TCI rates of 32.1% and 22.3%. In more detail, of the m-AD and s-AD patients, 82.9% and 86.6% were offered topical treatment post-visit, respectively, with proactive TCS rates of 28.2% in m-AD and 38.8% in s-AD patients and proactive TCI rates of 14.5% in m-AD and 35.8% in s-AD patients. Additionally, the percentage of patients receiving a different topical treatment for specific areas of the body slightly increased to 58.7% (58.1% for m-AD and 59.7% for s-AD), compared to initial regimens used. Additionally, the percentage of AD-specific ST increased to 44.6%, including a slight increase in the use of classical immunosuppressants and doubling the use of biologics in the overall population. Systemic steroids were also offered to 14.1% of patients. The relevant percentages of m-AD and s-AD patients are included in Figure 4. Of note, the use of antihistamines significantly dropped post-visit to expert centers.