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Published on: July 11, 2013
Treatment Preferences Among Systemic Therapy-Naïve Patients with Atopic Dermatitis or Psoriasis in Germany: A
Svenja Royeck1, Anna Daphne Bamidis2, Conrad Weckbecker3
1Pruritus Medicine Section, Department of Dermatology, and Center for Chronic Pruritus (KCP), University Hospital Münster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 58, 48149, Münster, Germany. Svenja.Royeck@ukmuenster.de.
Introduction:
Despite the expanding range of approved systemic therapies for atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis (PSO), data on patient preferences remain limited. It is largely unknown whether patients wish to initiate systemic treatment, which route of administration (oral versus subcutaneous) they prefer, or what factors drive their treatment preferences. This study evaluated the desire for systemic therapy among systemic treatment-naïve patients with AD or PSO, including disease-specific influencing factors and preferences for administration routes (subcutaneous injections vs. tablets).
Methods:
Eligible patients with AD or PSO were recruited at two German university hospitals. Questionnaires collected demographic and clinical data, including disease severity, pruritus and pain intensity, quality of life (QoL) impairment, and desire for systemic therapy. Data analysis comprised Mann-Whitney U tests (between-group comparisons), and Spearman correlations (factors influencing therapy desire).
Results:
From 253 recruited patients, systemic treatment-naïve patients with moderate-to-severe disease severity exclusively using topical therapies were selected (56 with AD, 63 with PSO); 77.8% of patients with PSO and 67.9% of patients with AD desired systemic therapy, mainly for superior efficacy, QoL improvement, and pruritus reduction. Administration preferences differed significantly (PSO 57.1% injections; AD 73.7% tablets; p < 0.005). The desire for systemic therapy moderately correlated with pain intensity (ρ = 0.422, p < 0.001) and QoL impairment (ρ = 0.379, p < 0.005) in AD and with male sex in PSO (ρ = 0.347, p < 0.005).
Conclusions:
Most topically treated patients with moderate-to-severe AD or PSO desire systemic therapy, with distinct disease-specific administration preferences.
Insights
Most patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis (PSO) desire systemic therapy for better efficacy and quality of life. Preferences for administration routes, such as injections or tablets, varied significantly between AD and PSO patients.
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.
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