Real-world health outcomes in US adult patients with mild to moderate plaque psoriasis taking topical therapy

Abstract

Background

Limited health outcomes information exists for patients with mild to moderate plaque psoriasis (hereafter, referred to as psoriasis) prescribed topical treatment(s).

Aim

We evaluated clinical characteristics of patients with systemic-naïve mild to moderate psoriasis after topical use in the United States.

Methods

Data were drawn from 2017 to 2018 Adelphi Psoriasis Disease Specific Programme™, a point-in-time survey of physicians and adult psoriasis patients, capturing data on topical treatment at time of consultation prescribed to systemic-naïve patients with mild to moderate psoriasis (i.e. body surface area [BSA] ≤ 10%) at current treatment initiation. Patient clinical characteristics before/after topical use were evaluated descriptively.

Results

Among 304 patients (median age 43.0 years; 53.6% female), mean time since diagnosis was 60.9 months. After a mean 6.9 months on their current topical, 14.5% of patients achieved ≥75% BSA reduction, 38.9% ≥50% BSA reduction, and 50.2% no BSA reduction. Residual psoriasis symptoms included scaling (76.5%), inflamed skin (65.9%), and itching (60.4%). Most patients (71.2%) had residual psoriasis in special body areas: nails (92.3%), palmoplantar (78.9%), scalp (75.9%), and face (65.8%).

Conclusion

We found unmet need in topical treatment effectiveness in mild to moderate psoriasis patients, in terms of BSA reduction, symptoms, and special body areas affected.

Keywords:

• Psoriasis
• topical administration
• treatment outcomes
• body surface area

Acknowledgements

The authors thank all patients and physicians who participated in the Adelphi Real World Psoriasis DSP. Medical writing and editorial assistance were provided by Sue Libretto, PhD, of Sue Libretto Publications Consultant Ltd (Hertfordshire, UK), and Dawn Nicewarner, PhD, of Amgen Inc. The authors also acknowledge the contribution of Natalie Nunez-Gomez, MD of Bristol-Myers Squibb, Summit, NJ, USA, for her involvement in the study design and initial data interpretation for the abstract.

Author contributions

TN, JH, and JL participated in the conception and design of the study; TN, JH, and JL in the acquisition of data, TN, IK, JH, and JL analyzed and interpreted the data, and DK, TN, IK, JH, and JL participated in manuscript writing and revision of drafts.

All authors have reviewed the manuscript; given final approval of the version and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work and will resolve any questions related to the accuracy or integrity of the work.

Previous publications

This is an original work and is not under consideration by any other journal.

The data were presented in part at: American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Virtual Meeting Experience (VMX), April 23–25, 2021: Nazareth et al. Real-world Health Outcomes in US Adult Patients with Mild to Moderate Plaque Psoriasis Taking Topical Therapy: Results from a Chart Review.

Disclosure statement

TN and IK were employees of Amgen at the time the study was conducted. JH and JL are employed by Adelphi Real World and declare no additional competing interests. DK works in Adult & Pediatric Dermatology. DK has worked as a consultant and/or speaker for Amgen, BMS, Celgene, Dermira, LEO Pharma, Pfizer, and Sanofi-Regeneron.

Data availability statement

All data that support the findings of this study are the intellectual property of Adelphi Real World. All requests for access should be addressed directly to James Hetherington at [email protected]

Additional information

Funding

Data collection was undertaken by Adelphi Real World as part of an independent survey, entitled the Adelphi Psoriasis Disease Specific Programme, subscribed to by multiple pharmaceutical companies of which one was Amgen. Amgen did not influence the original survey data collection.