Treatment use and satisfaction among patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: results from the NORdic PAtient survey of Psoriasis and Psoriatic arthritis (NORPAPP)

Abstract

<i>Background</i>: There are scarce data in Scandinavia about treatment satisfaction among patients with psoriasis (PsO)and/or psoriatic arthritis (PsA). The number of patients receiving systemic treatment is unknown.<p>

<p><i>Objective</i>: To describe patients’experience of treatments for PsO/PsA in Sweden, Denmark and Norway, addressing communication with physicians, satisfaction with treatment and concerns regarding treatment options.<p>

<p><i>Methods</i>: The NORdic PAtient survey of Psoriasis and Psoriatic arthritis (NORPAPP) asked 22 050 adults (randomly selected from the YouGov panels in Sweden, Denmark and Norway) whether they had PsO/PsA. A total of 1264 individuals who reported physician-diagnosed PsO/PsA were invited to participate in the full survey; 96.6% responded positively.<p>

<p><i>Results</i>: Systemic treatment use was reported by 14.6% (biologic: 8.1%) of respondents with PsO only and by 58.5% (biologic: 31.8%) of respondents with PsA. Biologic treatments were more frequently reported by respondents considering their disease severe (26.8% vs 6.7% non-severe) and those who were members of patient organizations (40.7% vs 6.9% non-members). Discussing systemic treatments with their physician was reported significantly more frequently by respondents with PsA, those perceiving their disease as severe (although 35.2% had never discussed systemic treatment with their physician) and those reporting being a member of a patient organization (P<0.05). Many respondents reported health risk concerns and dissatisfaction with their treatment. Of special interest was that respondents aged 45–75 years reported less experience with biologics (8.1%) than those aged 18–44 years (21.5%). The older respondents also reported more uncertainty regarding long-term health risks related to systemic treatments (most [66.7–72.9%] responded‘do not know’when asked about the risk of systemic options).<p>

<p><i>Conclusion</i>: It appears likely that substantial numbers of Scandinavians suffering from severe PsO/PsA are not receiving optimal treatment from a patient perspective, particularly older patients. Also, one-third of respondents with severe symptoms had never discussed systemic treatment with a physician.<p>