Treatment use and satisfaction among patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: results from the NORdic PAtient survey of Psoriasis and Psoriatic arthritis (NORPAPP).

BACKGROUND

There are scarce data in Scandinavia about treatment satisfaction among patients with psoriasis (PsO) and/or psoriatic arthritis (PsA). The number of patients receiving systemic treatment is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To describe patients' experience of treatments for PsO/PsA in Sweden, Denmark and Norway, addressing communication with physicians, satisfaction with treatment and concerns regarding treatment options.

METHODS

The NORdic PAtient survey of Psoriasis and Psoriatic arthritis (NORPAPP) asked 22 050 adults (randomly selected from the YouGov panels in Sweden, Denmark and Norway) whether they had PsO/PsA. A total of 1264 individuals who reported physician-diagnosed PsO/PsA were invited to participate in the full survey; 96.6% responded positively.

RESULTS

Systemic treatment use was reported by 14.6% (biologic: 8.1%) of respondents with PsO only and by 58.5% (biologic: 31.8%) of respondents with PsA. Biologic treatments were more frequently reported by respondents considering their disease severe (26.8% vs 6.7% non-severe) and those who were members of patient organizations (40.7% vs 6.9% non-members). Discussing systemic treatments with their physician was reported significantly more frequently by respondents with PsA, those perceiving their disease as severe (although 35.2% had never discussed systemic treatment with their physician) and those reporting being a member of a patient organization (P < 0.05). Many respondents reported health risk concerns and dissatisfaction with their treatment. Of special interest was that respondents aged 45-75 years reported less experience with biologics (8.1%) than those aged 18-44 years (21.5%). The older respondents also reported more uncertainty regarding long-term health risks related to systemic treatments (most [66.7-72.9%] responded 'do not know' when asked about the risk of systemic options).

CONCLUSION

It appears likely that substantial numbers of Scandinavians suffering from severe PsO/PsA are not receiving optimal treatment from a patient perspective, particularly older patients. Also, one-third of respondents with severe symptoms had never discussed systemic treatment with a physician.