Modified Delphi Consensus Recommendations for the Management of Psoriasis in Asia-Pacific

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Public Health
• Clinical Practice Guidelines

Background:

• Psoriasis presents a significant burden in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.
• Current management faces challenges due to inconsistent classification, assessment, and treatment escalation criteria, leading to undertreatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop consensus recommendations for psoriasis management tailored to the APAC region.
• To standardize psoriasis assessment and guide timely treatment escalation.

Main Methods:

• A modified Delphi panel approach was used, involving dermatology experts from six APAC markets.
• Recommendations were refined through literature review, expert interviews, and two rounds of online voting.
• Consensus was defined as ≥75% agreement among panellists.

Main Results:

• 121 statements achieved formal consensus after multiple voting rounds and a steering committee meeting.
• Recommendations cover psoriasis severity classification, assessment thresholds, treatment goals, response criteria, and systemic therapy eligibility.
• The process ensured clinical relevance, retaining some non-consensus statements based on expert determination.

Conclusions:

• The Delphi-derived recommendations offer a practical, patient-centered framework for APAC.
• Adoption can reduce care variability, improve access to systemic therapies, and enhance patient outcomes.
• Standardized approaches are crucial for diverse APAC healthcare systems.