Safety of Systemic Medications Among Older Adults With Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review of Observational Studies

Systemic Therapies for Psoriatic Disease and Serious Infections in Older Adults

Importance

Systemic treatments for psoriatic disease affect the immune system and may increase infection risk. Older adults are at high risk for infection, and the relative safety of systemic treatments for them is unknown.

Objective

To evaluate the association of systemic treatments for psoriatic disease with rates of serious infection among older adults.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study used linked population-based health administrative data from 2002 to 2021 in Ontario, Canada. Participants included Ontario residents 66 years and older with psoriatic disease who were dispensed their first systemic medication between April 1, 2002, and December 31, 2020. Data were analyzed between November 2021 and August 2024.

Exposure

Time-varying use of systemic medications categorized as (1) methotrexate; (2) other older systemic medications; (3) anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) biologics; (4) other biologics (targeting interleukin [IL]-12, IL-23, and IL-17); and (5) tofacitinib.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The main outcome was time to serious infection, defined as hospitalization for any infectious cause occurring up to March 2021. Multivariable Andersen-Gill recurrent event regression was used to estimate the association between each medication category and serious infection rates. The relative rates (RRs) of serious infection with 95% CIs for time actively using each medication category vs time not using that medication category were calculated.

Results

Of 11 641 new users of systemic therapy, 6114 (53%) were female, and the median (IQR) age was 71 (68-76) years. There were 1967 serious infections during a median (IQR) of 4.8 (2.3-8.4) years of follow-up. There were 2.7 serious infections per 100 person-years using methotrexate, 2.5 per 100 person-years using other older systemic drugs, 2.2 per 100 person-years using anti-TNF biologics, 1.4 per 100 person-years using other biologics, and 8.9 per 100 person-years using tofacitinib. In the multivariable-adjusted model, methotrexate (RR, 0.95 [95% CI, 0.85-1.07]), other older systemic medications (RR, 0.92 [95% CI, 0.79-1.07]), and anti-TNF biologics (RR, 0.87 [95% CI, 0.69-1.10]) were not associated with serious infection compared to person-time not using those respective medications. Other biologics (RR, 0.65 [95% CI, 0.48-0.88]) were associated with lower rates of serious infection, whereas tofacitinib (RR, 2.89 [95% CI, 1.14-7.34]) was associated with higher rates of serious infection.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study, biologics targeting IL-12, IL-23, or IL-17 were associated with a lower rate of serious infection among older adults with psoriatic disease. These biologics may have important safety benefits for older adults with higher infection risk.

Atopic dermatitis across the life course

Atopic dermatitis, the most common chronic inflammatory skin disease, can occur at any age, and patterns of disease activity vary over time. Both prevalence and incidence are highest in infancy and early childhood, followed by a second peak in older adulthood. Birth cohort studies from European countries following children through adolescence have identified subgroups of patients with early-onset persistent disease, early-onset resolving disease, and later-onset disease. Parental history of atopy and genetic factors are among the most consistent predictors of more persistent disease. Studies have begun to examine whether molecular markers differ by age group, although longitudinal data are lacking. Breastfeeding, probiotics and skin-directed therapies such as emollients have been investigated as potential preventive measures, but randomized trials have not found consistent long-term benefit. Future research should focus on patterns of disease activity beyond early adulthood and the role of treatments on long-term disease activity.

Systemic Therapy for Atopic Dermatitis in Older Adults and Adults With Comorbidities: A Scoping Review and International Eczema Council Survey

BACKGROUND

Clinical trials of systemic therapies for atopic dermatitis (AD) often exclude patients based on age and comorbidities.

OBJECTIVES

We conducted a scoping review of observational studies and survey of International Eczema Council (IEC) members on the treatment of AD in patients with liver disease, renal disease, viral hepatitis, HIV, or history of malignancy.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE via Ovid, Embase via Ovid, and Web of Science from inception to September 14, 2020. We mapped the available evidence on the use of cyclosporine, methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate, systemic corticosteroids, and dupilumab for AD in older adults (≥65 years) and adults with the previously mentioned comorbidities. We surveyed IEC members on their preferred systemic medications for each patient population.

RESULTS

We identified 25 studies on the use of systemic medications in special populations of adults with AD. Although IEC members preferred dupilumab as the first-line systemic agent across all special populations, many could not identify viable third-line systemic therapy options for some populations.

CONCLUSIONS

Data on systemic therapy for AD for older adults and adults with comorbidities are limited. Although IEC members' access to systemic therapies differs geographically, expert opinion suggests that dupilumab is preferred for those patients.