Treatment Patterns, Treatment Satisfaction, Severity of Disease Problems, and Quality of Life in Patients with Psoriasis in Three Nordic Countries

Ragnarson Tennvall G, Hjortsberg C, Bjarnason A, Gniadecki R, Heikkilä H, Jemec GB, Kragballe K, Miller IM and Svensson A.

Biological drugs are expensive, but can reduce symptoms and increase quality of life for patients with psoriasis. The aim of this study was to examine quality of life, disease severity and treatment satisfaction in Danish, Finnish and Swedish patients with psoriasis. Based on 12 months’ data from patient surveys and chart reviews, 3 treatment groups were identified: topical, systemic and/or biological <12 months, and biological for 12 months. Regression analyses were performed to investigate influence on treatment satisfaction, disease problems and quality of life. Patients treated with biological drugs for 12 months showed the highest treatment satisfaction and the lowest Dermatology Life Quality Index score. A number of patients with topical treatment reported low quality of life, severe or very severe disease problems, and low treatment satisfaction. Some patients with psoriasis may be under-treated and might benefit from a more aggressive treatment strategy. It is important, however, that resource utilization is optimized and patients are not treated with more advanced agents than necessary.

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Acta Dermato-Venereologica 2013; 93: 442-445
DOI: 10.2340/00015555-1485