Epidemiology of generalized pustular psoriasis in Germany: Analyzing factors influencing prevalence estimates health...

Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare, chronic, potentially life-threatening skin disease. We aimed to establish criteria to accurately approximate GPP prevalence in Germany.

A retrospective analysis of the WIG2 health claims database (1/1/2016-31/12/2020) was conducted. Patients aged ≥ 12 years continuously enrolled in their statutory health insurance with one inpatient or confirmed outpatient diagnosis code for GPP (International Classification of Diseases, 10^th Revision [ICD-10] L40.1) were included. Scenarios with increasingly strict criteria were used to identify the GPP population.

From 2016-2020, 5,236 potential GPP cases were identified based on a recorded GPP diagnosis. The scenario of ≥ 1 GPP diagnosis yielded the highest prevalence (336-390 patients/million) followed by > 1 GPP diagnosis in ≥ 2 quarters (189-288 patients/million); scenarios resulting in the lowest prevalence were diagnosis in ≥ 2 quarters AND two independent diagnoses (17-28/million) and diagnosis in ≥ 2 quarters AND two independent diagnoses or diagnosis by a specialist AND potential flare (58-61 patients/million).

This study suggests that diagnosis in ≥ 2 quarters by a specialist or two independent physicians may be the most clinically robust and reliable criteria for estimating GPP prevalence; therefore, 50-100 patients/million may represent a reasonable prevalence estimate range for Germany.