Unmet needs in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis treated with methotrexate in real world practice: FirST study.

BACKGROUND: Methotrexate (MTX) is frequently used in the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis, however, there is limited data on health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL), psoriasis clinical outcomes and hepatic fibrosis in MTX-treated patients in routine clinical practice. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the impact of moderate-to-severe psoriasis in MTX-treated patients in Spain regarding to HRQoL, psoriasis clinical data and risk of hepatic fibrosis. METHODS: Observational, non-interventional, cross-sectional, retrospective, multicentre study, performed in Spain in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis patients treated with MTX > 16 weeks prior to inclusion. RESULTS: Despite ongoing treatment, 17.1% of 457 evaluable patients reported moderate-to-extreme impact on HRQoL (DLQI > 5); 21.4% BSA > 5 and 35.2% moderate-to-severe pruritus (VAS ≥ 4). Persistent severe psoriasis (PASI ≥ 10 and/or DLQI ≥ 10) was observed in 10.7%. Hepatic steatosis was identified in 64.1% of patients (HSI ≥ 36) and 37.2% of the patients were at-risk of advanced fibrosis which was associated to the MTX treatment duration. CONCLUSIONS: The study identified unmet needs in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis patients treated with MTX, revealing a significant proportion of sub-optimally controlled patients in terms of HRQoL and different domains of the disease. This study also found patients at-risk of advanced fibrosis, with evidence suggesting a correlation between longer exposures to MTX and higher risk of advanced fibrosis.

Evaluation of Structure Indicators for Assessing Skin Cancer Quality of Care in Dermatology Departments. / Evaluación de indicadores de estructura en la atención al paciente con cáncer de piel en los servicios de dermatología.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: A series of quality indicators for melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer were recently approved within a project promoted by the Healthy Skin Foundation of the Spanish AEDV. The aim of this study was to evaluate adherence to these indicators. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In November 2016, an anonymous questionnaire consisting of 32 items was sent to the heads of Spanish dermatology and venereology departments listed in the AEDV's database. The questions referred to the above-mentioned quality of care indicators. RESULTS: The questionnaire was completed by 104 of the 150 people contacted (response rate, 69.3%). The lowest response rate for any given question was 56% (84 respondents). Over 85% of respondents answered 29 questions or more (91%). The most widely used indicators were those related to the use of computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging for squamous cell carcinoma (98%), followed by the availability of a standardized melanoma pathology report (90%). The least widely used indicators were related to availability of electrochemotherapy (25%) and other invasive therapies for locoregionally advanced melanoma (20%). CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to quality of cancer care criteria at the different hospitals evaluated varied. Our findings could be useful for identifying areas for improvement at different hospitals. Future studies should focus on measuring both process and outcome indicators.