The value to patients of reducing lesion severity in plaque psoriasis

Abstract

Plaque psoriasis is associated with significant psychosocial, quality-of-life, and economic burden. The objective of this study was to quantify the value to patients of reducing the severity and size of plaque psoriasis lesions. Subjects included individuals with a self-reported diagnosis of plaque psoriasis from a nationally representative US household panel. Subjects completed a web-based conjoint analysis survey and chose between hypothetical treatments in a series of questions. Each alternative was defined by lesion severity, percentage of body surface area (BSA) covered by lesions, type of treatment, injection discomfort or pain (if treatment included injections), risk of serious lung infection, and monthly out-of-pocket cost. 28,200 panelists were invited to participate. 18,330 responded, 503 qualified, and 419 completed the survey. Mean age was 54.5 years and 52% were female. 64% (35%) of patients reported psoriasis severity as mild or mild to moderate (moderate to very severe). Patients were willing to pay $486.73 out-of-pocket per month to eliminate severe lesions covering 25% BSA on the arms and legs and $444.80 out-of-pocket per month to eliminate moderate lesions covering 4% BSA on the face. Individuals with plaque psoriasis are willing to pay substantial amounts to reduce lesion severity and percentage of BSA covered by lesions.

Key words::

• psoriasis
• patient preference
• conjoint analysis
• discrete choice experiment
• willingness to pay

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the assistance of Semra Özdemir, MS who assisted in the development of the conjoint survey and conduct of this study and Reed Johnson, PhD who contributed to the development of the survey instrument and preliminary analyses of the data. The authors also wish to acknowledge Kristina Callis, MD, Gerald Krueger, MD, and Alice Gottlieb, MD for their co-development of the e-learning module and photographs used for Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) assessment training.

Declaration of interest: This study was funded by Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Services, LLC. Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Services, LLC and Centocor Ortho Biotech Services, LLC are subsidiaries of Johnson & Johnson.