Comparative effectiveness of biological therapies on improvements in quality of life in patients with psoriasis

The Impact of Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis on Quality of Life: A Literature Research on Biomarkers

Psoriasis (PSO) and Atopic dermatitis (AD) are common inflammatory skin diseases that affect people of all ages globally. They negatively impact the quality of life (QoL) of patients in health-related aspects such as physical, psychological and mental functioning. Here, we conducted a review of studies relating to candidate biomarkers and indicators associated with QoL impairment in PSO and AD. Data research was performed using PUBMED and SCOPUS databases from inception to September 2022. Most of the included studies reported genomic or proteomic biomarkers associated with disease activity and QoL outcomes. Sociodemographic, clinical and therapeutic factors have also been implicated in deterioration of life quality in these patients. The inclusion of clinical characteristics, QoL impairment and co-diagnosis should be considered in drug development programs, since processing biomarkers based on an increased number of features in addition to drug class and disease will intensify the value of the biomarker itself, thereby maximizing the future clinical utility as a stratification tool.

Biologics Can Significantly Improve Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) in Psoriatic Patients: A Systematic Review

Background

Materials and Methods

Results

Conclusion

Psoriasisarthritis (PsA) – retrospektive Datenanalyse einer Praxis-Kohorte und Schlussfolgerungen für Diagnostik und Therapie

Es wurden 40 Patienten mit Psoriasisarthritis (PsA) aus unserer Praxis nach dem Kriterium „Vorstellung in der Spezialsprechstunde Immundermatologie“ ausgewählt und einer retrospektiven Datenanalyse unterzogen. Entsprechend wurden nur vorhandene Angaben zu Krankheitsmerkmalen, -schwere und -verlauf, zu Therapien sowie zu Laborparametern ausgewertet, keine neuen oder ergänzenden nachträglich erhoben. Unsere Patientenkohorte wird charakterisiert durch epidemiologische Daten wie Geschlechtsverteilung (weiblich:männlich = 1,2:1), Alter (Mittelwert 52 Jahre), Erkrankungsdauer (23 Jahre, 5/40 Patienten mit Late-Onset-Erkrankung). In den meisten Fällen traten die Gelenkbeschwerden deutlich nach, bei nur wenigen Patienten zeitnah zu den Hautsymptomen, auf oder wurden dann bemerkt. Für die Diagnosestellung wurden die CASPAR-Kriterien und der DAPSA-Score verwendet. Die röntgenologische Diagnostik erwies sich als wenig hilfreich. Soweit möglich, wurde bei der Diagnosestellung und Therapieeinleitung mit Kollegen der Rheumatologie oder Kliniken zusammengearbeitet. Entsprechend der Vielzahl zur Verfügung stehender therapeutischer Optionen wurden verschiedene Substanzen eingesetzt und ein Therapiealgorithmus ausgearbeitet. In einigen Fällen wurde versucht, Therapieverläufe mittels DAPSA, PASI, NAPSI und DLQI zu objektivieren. Kasuistische Berichte aus der Kohorte veranlassten uns zur Analyse von Hinweisen auf Atopie (klinische Symptome, Labor- und Testparameter, entsprechende Therapien), wobei wir bei 12/40 Patienten mit PsA atopische Phänomene feststellten. Wir möchten mit dieser retrospektiven, klinischen Datenanalyse einen Beitrag leisten für ein gutes interdisziplinäres Management einer sehr komplexen und häufig schweren Erkrankung in unseren dermatologischen Praxen.

Alcohol misuse is associated with poor response to systemic therapies for psoriasis: findings from a prospective multicentre cohort study

BACKGROUND

Factors that might influence response to systemic treatment for moderate-to-severe psoriasis are varied, and generally, are poorly understood, aside from high bodyweight, suggesting that other unidentified factors may be relevant in determining response to treatment. The impact of alcohol misuse on treatment response has not been previously investigated.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate whether alcohol misuse is associated with poor response to treatment for psoriasis.

METHODS

This was a prospective cohort study in which response to systemic therapies was assessed using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). The CAGE (Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye opener) questionnaire was used to screen for alcohol misuse. A multivariable factional polynomial linear regression model was used to examine factors associated with change in PASI between baseline and follow-up.

RESULTS

The cohort comprised 266 patients (biologic cohort, n = 134; conventional systemic cohort, n = 132). For the entire cohort, the median (interquartile range) PASI improved from 13 (10·0-18·3) at baseline to 3 (1·0-7·5) during follow-up. A higher CAGE score [regression coefficient: 1·40, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0·04-2·77]; obesity (1·84, 95% CI 0·48-3·20); and receiving a conventional systemic rather than a biologic therapy (4·39, 95% CI 2·84-5·95) were significantly associated with poor response to treatment; whereas a higher baseline PASI (-0·83, 95% CI -0·92 to -0·74) was associated with a better response to treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The poor response to therapy associated with alcohol misuse and obesity found in people with psoriasis calls for lifestyle behaviour change interventions and support as part of routine clinical care. Targeting interventions to prevent, detect and manage alcohol misuse among people with psoriasis is needed to minimize adverse health consequences and improve treatment response.

Signal Detection and Methodological Limitations in a Real-World Registry: Learnings from the Evaluation of Long-Term Safety Analyses in PSOLAR

INTRODUCTION

Psoriasis Longitudinal Assessment and Registry (PSOLAR) was designed in 2007 as the first disease-based registry for patients with psoriasis.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to discuss methodological limitations and post hoc analyses in long-term safety registries using learnings from analyses of a potential safety risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in PSOLAR.

METHODS

PSOLAR is an international observational study of over 12,000 psoriasis patients that was conducted to meet postmarketing safety commitments for infliximab and ustekinumab. A recent annual review of registry data indicated a potential MACE risk for ustekinumab vs. non-biologics based on prespecified COX model regression analyses, which yielded an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 1.533 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.103-2.131). Therefore, we conducted a comprehensive review of key statistical methodology and implemented post hoc analytical methods to address specific limitations.

RESULTS

The following limiting factors were identified: (1) inclusion of both prevalent and incident (new) users of biologics; (2) unanticipated imbalances in patient characteristics between treatment cohorts at baseline; (3) limited availability of relevant clinical data after enrollment; and (4) divergence of characteristics associated with outcomes among comparator groups over time. The analysis was modified to include only incident users, propensity scores were used to weight HRs, and adalimumab was deemed a more clinically appropriate comparator. The revised HR was 0.820 (95% CI 0.532-1.265), indicating no meaningful increase in MACE risk for ustekinumab.

CONCLUSION

Our results, which do not support a causal association between ustekinumab exposure and MACE risk, underscore the need for ongoing assessment of analytical methods in long-term observational studies.

Progress to Date in Advancing Stratified Medicine in Psoriasis

Stratified medicine is the tailoring of treatment to the individual characteristics of each patient. This is a challenging task in the context of psoriasis, a complex disease with a variety of phenotypic presentations and a comorbidity burden that extends beyond cutaneous manifestations. In recent years, considerable progress has been made in understanding the immunology of psoriasis, and this has informed the development of increasingly precise and efficacious therapies. However, not all patients respond to biologic therapy, and access is limited to patients with moderate to severe disease. However, subpopulations of patients are emerging with distinct patterns of response to therapy, largely determined by clinical and pharmacogenomic factors. Despite progress to date, the natural history of psoriasis remains poorly understood. It is likely that disease onset, progression, development of comorbidities and response to therapy are due to a combination of genetic, inflammatory and environmental factors. We envision that a greater understanding of the natural history of psoriasis will be a key factor in progressing a stratified medicine approach to patient care, as will earlier intervention in the course of the disease.

Unlocking the Value of Anti-TNF Biosimilars: Reducing Disease Burden and Improving Outcomes in Chronic Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases: A Narrative Review

Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) are chronic conditions that create a significant disease burden on millions of patients while adding a major financial burden to societies and healthcare systems.

The introduction of biologic medicines has contributed majorly to improving the clinical outcomes of IMIDs and as such these modalities have gained first- or second-line positions in a wide range of treatment guidelines from different international clinical societies. However, the high cost of these biologics traditionally limited their accessibility and delayed their initiation, leaving millions of patients with unmet medical needs for a more affordable and sustainable solution.

The introduction of cost-efficient biosimilar anti-TNFs within Europe since 2013 has allowed more patients with IMIDs to access biologic therapies earlier and for longer, potentially altering the course of the disease into a milder phenotype and reducing the long-term disease burden. This review provides the latest evidence for the impact of biosimilars on patient outcomes and demonstrates their clinical value beyond a reduction in price.

Health state utility values derived from EQ-5D in psoriatic patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

To determine pooled EQ-5D utility scores for psoriasis as a general condition, plaque psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis of EQ-5D utility scores for psoriatic patients was conducted. Univariate meta-regression was used to explore the degree of heterogeneity.

RESULTS

Seventy-five studies were included in the systematic review. The EQ-5D in psoriatic patients demonstrated decent convergent, known-groups validity, and a degree of responsiveness with a ceiling effect. Among the five EQ-5D dimensions, 'self-care' showed the lowest and 'pain/discomfort' showed the highest percentages of reporting any problems. For meta-analysis, we identified 70 utility scores from 59 studies: 22 for plaque psoriasis, 26 for psoriasis as a general condition, and 22 for psoriatic arthritis. The mean (95% CIs; I²) of the EQ-5D utility scores for psoriasis as a general condition, plaque psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis was 0.748 (0.718, 0.777; 98.8%), 0.755 (0.727, 0.783; 98.6%), and 0.585 (0.538, 0.632; 98.2%), respectively. For psoriasis as a general condition and plaque psoriasis, factors such as country, psoriasis area and severity index (PASI), dermatology life quality index (DLQI) and questionnaire version (EQ-5D-3L or EQ-5D-5L) all significantly influenced the utility scores.

CONCLUSION

Psoriasis imposes a substantial impairment on patients' quality of life, especially the pain/discomfort dimension. Heterogeneity exists among different EQ-5D utility values found in the literature.

Comparison of Drug Discontinuation, Effectiveness, and Safety Between Clinical Trial Eligible and Ineligible Patients in BADBIR

Importance

Patients with psoriasis enrolled in clinical trials of biologics may not be representative of the real-world population. There is evidence that patients ineligible for such trials have a greater risk of serious adverse events (SAEs), but the effect on drug discontinuation and effectiveness are unknown.

Objective

To determine whether (1) drug discontinuation, (2) effectiveness, and (3) rates of SAEs differ in patients with psoriasis categorized as eligible or ineligible for clinical trials.

Design, Setting, and Participants

An observational study using 157 dermatology centers in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland was carried out wherein we applied the eligibility criteria of clinical trials of biologic therapies for psoriasis to patients who were being followed up in the British Association of Dermatologists Biologic Interventions Register (BADBIR) and being prescribed biologics as part of standard clinical care. Patients with psoriasis registered to BADBIR who were taking etanercept (enbrel only; n = 1509), adalimumab (n = 4000), and ustekinumab (n = 1627) with at least 1 follow-up visit. Eligibility criteria were extracted from phase 3 licensing trials for etanercept, adalimumab, and ustekinumab for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis. Patients in BADBIR with a missing baseline Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) or baseline PASI value less than 10 (etanercept) or less than 12 (adalimumab; ustekinumab) but who would otherwise be eligible were investigated separately. Eligibility categories applied to BADBIR included: eligible, ineligible, insufficient baseline PASI only, and missing baseline PASI only.

Main Outcomes and Measures

(1) Drug discontinuation: cumulative incidence at 12 months by stop reason per eligibility category and drug; (2) effectiveness: linear regression of absolute change in PASI from baseline to 6 and 12 months; and (3) SAEs: incidence rate ratio (IRR) at 12 months between eligibility categories per drug.

Results

The mean (SD) age of the 7136 patients included in the analysis was 45 (13) years and 2924 (41%) were women and 4212 (59%) were men. Of 7136 patients, 839 (56%) etanercept, 2219 (56%) adalimumab, and 754 (46%) ustekinumab registrations were categorized as eligible. The most common reasons for ineligibility were diabetes (etanercept, 143 [9%]; ustekinumab, 201 [12%]) and nonchronic plaque psoriasis (adalimumab, 157 [4%]). Patients categorized as ineligible (etanercept, 367 [24%]; adalimumab, 282 [7%]; ustekinumab, 394 [24%]) achieved a smaller absolute change in PASI after 6 and 12 months (adalimumab, ustekinumab), and had significantly higher rates of SAEs compared with the eligible category (etanercept: IRR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.4-2.6; adalimumab: IRR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.5-2.6; ustekinumab: IRR, 2.8; 95% CI, 2.1-3.8). No significant differences in drug discontinuation were observed between categories.

Conclusions and Relevance

Clinical trial effectiveness and safety outcomes are not representative of real-world patients in BADBIR patients categorized as ineligible for such trials.

Identifying demographic, social and clinical predictors of biologic therapy effectiveness in psoriasis: a multicentre longitudinal cohort study

Background

Biologic therapies have revolutionized the treatment of moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis. However, for reasons largely unknown, many patients do not respond or lose response to these drugs.

Objectives

To evaluate demographic, social and clinical factors that could be used to predict effectiveness and stratify response to biologic therapies in psoriasis.

Methods

Using a multicentre, observational, prospective pharmacovigilance study (BADBIR), we identified biologic‐naive patients starting biologics with outcome data at 6 (n = 3079) and 12 (n = 3110) months. Associations between 31 putative predictors and outcomes were investigated in univariate and multivariable regression analyses. Potential stratifiers of treatment response were investigated with statistical interactions.

Results

Eight factors associated with reduced odds of achieving ≥ 90% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 90) at 6 months were identified (described as odds ratio and 95% confidence interval): demographic (female sex, 0·78, 0·66–0·93); social (unemployment, 0·67, 0·45–0·99); unemployment due to ill health (0·62, 0·48–0·82); ex‐ and current smoking (0·81, 0·66–0·99 and 0·79, 0·63–0·99, respectively); clinical factors (high weight, 0·99, 0·99–0·99); psoriasis of the palms and/or soles (0·75, 0·61–0·91); and presence of small plaques only compared with small and large plaques (0·78, 0·62–0·96). White ethnicity (1·48, 1·12–1·97) and higher baseline PASI (1·04, 1·03–1·04) were associated with increased odds of achieving PASI 90. The findings were largely consistent at 12 months. There was little evidence for predictors of differential treatment response.

Conclusions

Psoriasis phenotype and potentially modifiable factors are associated with poor outcomes with biologics, underscoring the need for lifestyle management. Effect sizes suggest that these factors alone cannot inform treatment selection.

What's already known about this topic?

Biologic therapy used in the treatment of moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis differs in its effectiveness across patients.

Previous research has indicated that patients with a higher body mass index, who smoke or who have smoked, and with a lower baseline Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) are less likely to have a good outcome with biologic therapy for the treatment of moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis.

What does this study add?

This large‐scale study in a real‐world setting confirms that weight, smoking status and baseline PASI are associated with effectiveness of biologic therapy.

There is evidence that non‐white ethnicity, female sex, unemployment, psoriasis of the palms and soles and the presence of small chronic plaques are associated with poor outcomes with biologics.

There is some evidence that men have a comparatively worse response to etanercept, relative to adalimumab, than women. Otherwise, most factors do not appear to be predictors of differential treatment response.

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Generating EQ-5D-3L Utility Scores from the Dermatology Life Quality Index: A Mapping Study in Patients with Psoriasis

OBJECTIVES

To develop an algorithm to predict the three-level EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L) utility scores from the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) in psoriasis.

METHODS

This mapping study used data from the British Association of Dermatologists Biologic Interventions Register-a pharmacovigilance register comprising patients with moderate to severe psoriasis on systemic therapies. Conceptual overlap between the EQ-5D-3L and DLQI was assessed using Spearman rank correlation coefficients and exploratory factor analysis. Six regression methods to predict the EQ-5D-3L index (direct mapping) and two regression methods to predict EQ-5D-3L domain responses (response mapping) were tested. Random effects models were explored to account for repeated observations from the same individual. Estimated and actual EQ-5D-3L utility scores were compared using 10-fold cross-validation (in-sample) to evaluate predictive performance. Final models were selected using root mean squared error, mean absolute error, and mean error.

RESULTS

The data set comprised 22,085 observations for which DLQI and EQ-5D-3L were recorded on the same day. A moderate correlation was found between the measures (r = -0.47). Exploratory factor analysis showed that two EQ-5D-3L domains (pain/discomfort and depression/anxiety) were associated with all six DLQI domains. The best-performing model used ordinary least squares with DLQI items, age, and sex as explanatory variables (with squared, cubic, and interaction terms). A tool was produced to allow users to map their data to the EQ-5D-3L, and includes algorithms that require fewer variables (e.g., total DLQI scores).

CONCLUSIONS

This study produced mapping algorithms that can generate EQ-5D-3L utility scores from DLQI data for economic evaluations of health interventions for patients with psoriasis.

Differential Drug Survival of Second-Line Biologic Therapies in Patients with Psoriasis: Observational Cohort Study from the British Association of Dermatologists Biologic Interventions Register (BADBIR)

Little is known about the drug survival of second-line biologic therapies for psoriasis in routine clinical practice. We assessed drug survival of second-line biologic therapies and estimated the risk of recurrent discontinuation due to adverse events or ineffectiveness in patients with psoriasis who had failed a first biologic therapy and switched to a second in a large, multicenter pharmacovigilance registry (n = 1,239; adalimumab, n = 538; etanercept, n = 104; ustekinumab, n = 597). The overall drug survival rate in the first year after switching was 77% (95% confidence interval = 74–79%), falling to 58% (55–61%) in the third year. Female sex, multiple comorbidities, concomitant therapy with cyclosporine, and a high Psoriasis Area and Severity Index at switching to the second-line biologic therapy were predictors of overall discontinuation (multivariable Cox proportional hazard model). Compared to adalimumab, patients receiving etanercept were more likely to discontinue therapy (hazard ratio = 1.87, 95% confidence interval = 1.24–2.83), whereas patients receiving ustekinumab were more likely to persist (hazard ratio = 0.46; 95% confidence interval = 0.33–0.64). Discontinuation of the first biologic therapy because of adverse events was associated with an increased rate of second drug discontinuation because of adverse events (hazard ratio = 2.55; 95% confidence interval = 1.50–4.32). In conclusion, drug survival rates differed among biologic therapies and decreased over time; second-line discontinuation because of adverse events was more common among those who discontinued first-line treatment for this reason. The results of this study should support clinical decision making when choosing second-line biologic therapy for patients with psoriasis.

Intentional and Unintentional Medication Non-Adherence in Psoriasis: The Role of Patients' Medication Beliefs and Habit Strength

Medication non-adherence is a missed opportunity for therapeutic benefit. We assessed “real-world” levels of self-reported non-adherence to conventional and biologic systemic therapies used for psoriasis and evaluated psychological and biomedical factors associated with non-adherence using multivariable analyses. Latent profile analysis was used to investigate whether patients can be categorized into groups with similar medication beliefs. Latent profile analysis categorizes individuals with similar profiles on a set of continuous variables into discrete groups represented by a categorical latent variable. Eight hundred and eleven patients enrolled in the British Association of Dermatologists Biologic Interventions Register were included. Six hundred and seventeen patients were using a self-administered systemic therapy; 22.4% were classified as “non-adherent” (12% intentionally and 10.9% unintentionally). Patients using an oral conventional systemic agent were more likely to be non-adherent compared to those using etanercept or adalimumab (29.2% vs. 16.4%; P ≤ 0.001). Latent profile analysis supported a three-group model; all groups held strong beliefs about their need for systemic therapy but differed in levels of medication concerns. Group 1 (26.4% of the sample) reported the strongest concerns, followed by Group 2 (61%), with Group 3 (12.6%) reporting the weakest concerns. Group 1 membership was associated with intentional non-adherence (odds ratio = 2.27, 95% confidence interval = 1.16−4.47) and weaker medication-taking routine or habit strength was associated with unintentional non-adherence (odds ratio = 0.92, 95% confidence interval = 0.89−0.96). Medication beliefs and habit strength are modifiable targets for strategies to improve adherence in psoriasis.