Treatment Preferences Among Systemic Therapy-Naïve Patients with Atopic Dermatitis or Psoriasis in Germany: A...

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Patient-reported outcomes
• Pharmacotherapy

Background:

• Limited data exists on patient preferences for systemic therapies in atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis (PSO).
• Understanding patient desire for systemic treatment and preferred administration routes (oral vs. subcutaneous) is crucial for treatment optimization.
• This study addresses the knowledge gap regarding patient preferences among treatment-naïve individuals with AD or PSO.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the desire for systemic therapy in patients with moderate-to-severe AD or PSO who have not previously used systemic treatments.
• To identify disease-specific factors influencing the desire for systemic therapy.
• To determine patient preferences for administration routes: subcutaneous injections versus oral tablets.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire-based study was conducted with systemic treatment-naïve patients diagnosed with AD or PSO at two German university hospitals.
• Data collected included demographics, disease severity, pruritus, pain intensity, quality of life (QoL) impairment, and desire for systemic therapy.
• Statistical analysis involved Mann-Whitney U tests for group comparisons and Spearman correlations to identify factors influencing therapy desire.

Main Results:

• A significant majority of patients with moderate-to-severe AD (67.9%) and PSO (77.8%) expressed a desire for systemic therapy, primarily seeking improved efficacy, QoL, and reduced pruritus.
• Administration route preferences showed significant differences: 57.1% of PSO patients preferred injections, while 73.7% of AD patients preferred tablets (p < 0.005).
• Desire for systemic therapy correlated with pain intensity and QoL impairment in AD patients, and with male sex in PSO patients.

Conclusions:

• The majority of topically treated patients with moderate-to-severe AD and PSO are motivated to initiate systemic therapy.
• Distinct preferences for administration routes exist between AD and PSO patient populations, highlighting the need for personalized treatment approaches.
• Patient-reported factors like pain and QoL significantly influence the desire for systemic treatment, underscoring the importance of a holistic patient assessment.