Many Psoriasis Patients Have Not Achieved Clear Skin, Despite Its Possibility

Clear skin is important to patients with psoriasis, but most patients are not achieving clear skin and many do not know attaining clear skin is possible, according to results published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.

Researchers conducted a global survey of 8338 participants with moderate to severe psoriasis from 31 countries. The survey included the Self-Administered Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, Stanford Presenteeism Scale, Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale, and World Health Organization Well-Being Index.

The survey indicated that 57% of participants had not achieved self-assessed clear/almost clear skin with their current therapy. Of these participants, 56% said they believed it was impossible to achieve clear/almost clear skin.

Of the participants who had achieved clear/almost clear skin, 73% had not initiated their current treatment regimen until >1 year after diagnosis. Further, 28% of these participants did not initiate their current treatment until >5 years after diagnosis.

Of all participants, 84% reported experiencing discrimination and/or humiliation due to their psoriasis. Participants who did not have clear/almost clear skin reported that achieving clear/almost clear skin would open up new possibilities, such as swimming, trying on new clothes, and meeting new people.

“Sustained achievement of high skin clearance has the potential to improve severe [quality of life] deficits in psoriasis and open a wider horizon of life experiences to patients,” the researchers wrote.

Disclosures: Dr Armstrong has served as an investigator, advisor, and/or speaker for AbbVie, Amgen, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Merck, Modernizing Medicine, Novartis, Pfizer, Regeneron, Sanofi, Science 37 and Valeant. Dr Jarvis has served as a speaker or advisory board member for AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi, Servier, Shire, and Takeda. Dr Boehncke has served as advisor and/or speaker for AbbVie, Almirall, Amgen, Biogen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Leo Pharma, MSD, Novartis, Pantec, Pfizer, Sanofi, and UCB. Dr Rajagopalan has been a consultant for MSD and Schering Plough and an advisory board member and honorarium recipient from Pfizer (Wyeth). Dr Fernández-Peñas has served on advisory committees for AbbVie, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Leo Pharma, Merck-Serono, Novartis, Roche, and Sun Pharma. Dr Romiti has been a consultant, advisory board, or speakers’ bureau member for AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Janssen-Cilag, Leo Pharma, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB. Dr Bewley has received consultancy payments from AbbVie, Almirall, Galderma, Janssen, Leo Pharma, Novartis, and Thornton and Ross. Mr Vaid was an employee of Novartis at the time this survey was conducted. Ms Huneault and Dr Fox are employees of Novartis. Ms Sodha was an employee of GfK Switzerland at the time this survey was conducted. Dr Warren has received grant/research support from AbbVie, Novartis, and Pfizer; has served as a consultant for AbbVie, Almirall, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, and Xenoport; and is a speakers’ bureau member for AbbVie, Amgen, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, and Pfizer.

Reference

Armstrong A, Jarvis S, Boehncke WH, et al. Patient perceptions of clear/almost clear skin in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis: results of the Clear About Psoriasis Worldwide Study [published online May 6, 2018]. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venearol. doi:10.1111/jdv.15065