Risk of major adverse cardiovascular events and venous thromboembolic events between patients with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis on tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, interleukin 17 inhibitors, interleukin 12/23 inhibitors, and interleukin 23 inhibitors: An emulated target trial analysis.

BACKGROUND

The risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) and venous thromboembolic events (VTEs) in patients with psoriatic disease receiving biologics is not fully understood.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate whether novel biologic therapies (interleukin 17 inhibitor [IL-17i], interleukin 12/23 inhibitor [IL-12/23i], and interleukin 23 inhibitor [IL-23i]) for biologic-naïve patients with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are associated with differences in the risks of MACE and VTE compared with those with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFis).

METHODS

An emulated target trial was designed by a nationwide cohort using data from the TriNetX Research Network. Biologic-naïve patients with psoriasis or PsA receiving biologics between 2014 and 2022 were enrolled. Treatment groups were determined by patients' first prescription of biologics. Three propensity-matched cohorts were established, namely, IL-17i versus TNFi, IL-12/23i versus TNFi, and IL-23i versus TNFi. The incidence rate and incidence rate ratios were estimated.

RESULTS

A total of 32,098 biologic-naïve patients with psoriasis or PsA treated with biologics were included. All enrollees were further categorized into 4 cohorts (20,314 in the TNFi cohort, 5073 in the IL-17i cohort, 3573 in the IL-12/23i cohort, and 3138 in the IL-23i cohort). No significant difference in the risks of MACE and VTE between biologics existed among patients with psoriatic disease. In the subgroup analyses for either psoriasis or PsA, no significant difference in the risks of MACE or VTE was noted among all comparisons in the subgroup. Among patients with preexisting hyperlipidemia and diabetes mellitus, the risks of MACE and VTE among patients using new biologics (IL-17i, IL-12/23i, or IL-23i) were lower than those using TNFi.

LIMITATIONS

The data lack psoriasis severity.

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with psoriasis or PsA, no significant risk differences in MACE and VTE were detected between those with IL-17i, IL-12/23i, and IL-23i and those with TNFi. These findings can serve as a reference to health care providers and patients when making clinical decisions, thereby also providing evidence for future pharmacovigilance research.