The real world impact of adalimumab on quality of life and the physical and psychological effects of moderate-to-severe psoriasis: a UK prospective, multicenter, observational study

Abstract

Psoriasis can adversely affect quality of life (QoL) and emotional well-being. In this UK prospective observational study we evaluated the ‘real-world’ impact of adalimumab on QoL and the physical/psychological effects of moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Hundred and forty-three biologic-naïve patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis, receiving adalimumab in clinical practice, were included. Patients completed a series of questionnaires at baseline (adalimumab initiation), 4 and 16-weeks and 6-months post-adalimumab initiation during routine visits. The main outcome measure was the proportion of Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) ‘responders’ at 16 weeks, defined as ≥5 point reduction from baseline or DLQI = 0.90% (95% CI = 80.8%–94.6%) of evaluable patients were DLQI responders at 16-weeks. There were significant improvements at 16 weeks in patient-reported measures of QoL, mental and physical well-being, cutaneous body image, anxiety, depression and psoriasis severity, which were maintained at 6-months. Adalimumab treatment was associated with improvements in patients’ QoL and psychological functioning, which occurred contemporaneously with improvements in cutaneous disease.

Keywords:

• Adalimumab
• psoriasis
• quality of life
• body image

Acknowledgments

All authors, external and internal, had full access to all of the data (including statistical reports and tables) in the study and can take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Dr Anthony Bewley is guarantor for the submitted work. The authors wish to thank Noeleen Smith, Clinical Nurse Specialist at Cannock Chase Hospital, for her help with patient recruitment and data collection. The authors would also like to thank pH Associates, a healthcare consultancy company specializing in real world evaluation, for provision of medical writing support by Laura Baldock and statistical analysis support in the preparation of this manuscript (funded by AbbVie).

Disclosure statement

Funding to support this work was provided by AbbVie, the company whose drug is being studied.

S.W., A.L., S.C., A.D. and K.A.W. have no other conflicts of interest; J.L. has given sponsored talks for AbbVie, Celegene, Eli Lilly and Novartis and has attended advisory boards for Almirall, Celgene, Janssen, Leo and Eli Lilly, Novartis and Janssen; ML was an employee of AbbVie during the conduct, analysis and reporting of the study; AB has ad hoc consultancy agreements with AbbVie, Almirall, Leo Pharma, Novartis, Galderma, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Lilly; SM is a member of the See Psoriasis: Look Deeper Collaboration, which is sponsored by AbbVie and has given sponsored talks for AbbVie, Almirall and UCB Pharma. She has also performed sponsored talks for Amgen, Celgene, Janssen and Eli Lilly and worked in an advisory capacity for Janssen.

Authors contributors

A.B. was involved in the design/conception of the work and the acquisition, analysis and interpretation of the data. J.L., S.W., S.M. and A.D. were involved in the acquisition and interpretation of the data. A.L., S.C. and K.A.W. were involved in the acquisition of the data. M.L. was involved in the interpretation of the data. All authors critically reviewed the draft manuscript and approved the final version.

Additional information

Funding

This study was sponsored and funded by AbbVie Ltd. AbbVie participated in the interpretation of data, review, and approval of this research. AbbVie provided funding to employees of pH Associates, a company specializing in real-world evaluation to support AbbVie and the authors in study design, research, analysis, data collection, interpretation of data, writing, reviewing, and approving of the publication.