Real-World Burden of Generalized Pustular Psoriasis in a French Observational Study: Prevalence, Incidence,...

Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is rare, chronic, and associated with life-threatening complications. We investigated the burden of GPP in France.

Using data from 2010 to 2021 in the Système National des Données de Santé database, healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), costs, comorbidities, mortality, and treatments were compared among GPP (N = 4351), plaque psoriasis (N = 12,945), and general population (N = 12,981) cohorts, matched for sex, age, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score, and region. GPP prevalence and incidence were also investigated.

Annually, there were 0.5-0.8 new GPP cases per 100,000 people. Across the cohorts, 54.5-54.7% of people were male, with mean age 58.7-59.5 years and mean CCI score 1.98-2.06. The GPP cohort incurred significantly greater HCRU and costs versus the plaque psoriasis and general population cohorts, including greater proportions of patients receiving emergency care (78% vs 63% and 55%) and intensive care (28% vs 17% and 14%), longer hospitalizations (mean 38.5 vs 26.2 and 22.4 days per patient), and higher medication costs (€4360 vs €1991 and €1543 per patient-year), respectively. Despite similar CCI scores, GPP was associated with more cardiometabolic and psychological comorbidities versus the plaque psoriasis and general population cohorts, e.g., hypertension (37% vs 21% and 20%), obesity (21% vs 9% and 6%), depression (13% vs 4% and 4%), alcohol abuse (16% vs 3% and 3%), and sleep disorders (8% vs 4% and 3%), respectively. Treatments in the GPP cohort were those used for plaque psoriasis, including topical steroids (77%), systemic steroids (50%), and biologics (23%). Twelve-month survival was 86.9% (GPP), 97.5% (plaque psoriasis), and 90.0% (the general population).

HCRU, costs, and comorbidities with GPP were often double those for comparator cohorts, and mortality was higher. These findings highlight the need to use GPP-targeted treatments that improve patient outcomes and may reduce the burden on healthcare systems.