Costs and quality of life in patients with moderate to severe plaque-type psoriasis in Germany: a multi-center study.

TY - JOUR

T1 - Costs and quality of life in patients with moderate to severe plaque-type psoriasis in Germany: a multi-center study.

AU - Schöffski, Oliver

AU - Augustin, Matthias

AU - Prinz, Jörg

AU - Rauner, Karin

AU - Schubert, Erich

AU - Sohn, Stefan

AU - Reich, Kristian

PY - 2007

Y1 - 2007

N2 - BACKGROUND: This study evaluated costs, disease severity and health-related quality of life (QoL) in patients with moderate to severe plaque-type psoriasis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with a 'psoriasis area and severity index' (PASI) > 12 and/or a body surface area (BSA) > 10 were enrolled in dermatological practices and hospital outpatient departments (n = 184) and the total costs of illness generated during the last 12 months were retrospectively calculated. QoL was assessed using the SF-36 and the DLQI. Participants were stratified into three subgroups according to the treatment received during the 1 year documentation period; a) patients without and b) patients with phototherapy or standard systemic therapy, and c) patients who had failed, were intolerant or had contraindications to at least two standard systemic therapies. The study was performed before biologics became available for the treatment of psoriasis in Germany. RESULTS: Included patients had severe skin symptoms (mean PASI 18.2) and a highly impaired QoL (mean DLQI 10.6). Total annual costs amounted to euro 6,709. Patients belonging to subgroup C had the most severe skin symptoms (mean PASI 22.2), the lowest QoL (mean DLQI 12.6), the highest hospitalization rate and largest loss of productivity.These patients produced the highest total costs of 8.831 euro/y. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who cannot (or can no longer) be adequately managed with standard treatments are characterized by high disease activity, high costs and reduced QoL. Improved treatment options particularly for these patients are medically necessary and appear economically sensible.

AB - BACKGROUND: This study evaluated costs, disease severity and health-related quality of life (QoL) in patients with moderate to severe plaque-type psoriasis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with a 'psoriasis area and severity index' (PASI) > 12 and/or a body surface area (BSA) > 10 were enrolled in dermatological practices and hospital outpatient departments (n = 184) and the total costs of illness generated during the last 12 months were retrospectively calculated. QoL was assessed using the SF-36 and the DLQI. Participants were stratified into three subgroups according to the treatment received during the 1 year documentation period; a) patients without and b) patients with phototherapy or standard systemic therapy, and c) patients who had failed, were intolerant or had contraindications to at least two standard systemic therapies. The study was performed before biologics became available for the treatment of psoriasis in Germany. RESULTS: Included patients had severe skin symptoms (mean PASI 18.2) and a highly impaired QoL (mean DLQI 10.6). Total annual costs amounted to euro 6,709. Patients belonging to subgroup C had the most severe skin symptoms (mean PASI 22.2), the lowest QoL (mean DLQI 12.6), the highest hospitalization rate and largest loss of productivity.These patients produced the highest total costs of 8.831 euro/y. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who cannot (or can no longer) be adequately managed with standard treatments are characterized by high disease activity, high costs and reduced QoL. Improved treatment options particularly for these patients are medically necessary and appear economically sensible.

M3 - SCORING: Zeitschriftenaufsatz

VL - 5

SP - 209

EP - 218

JO - J DTSCH DERMATOL GES

JF - J DTSCH DERMATOL GES

SN - 1610-0379

IS - 3

M1 - 3

ER -