Real-World Experience of Patient-Relevant Benefits and Treatment Satisfaction with Apremilast in Patients with Psoriasis: An Analysis of the APPRECIATE Study.

INTRODUCTION: In the real-world APPRECIATE study (NCT02740218), most patients with psoriasis demonstrated notable improvements on disease severity measures and reported clinically meaningful treatment benefits with apremilast. OBJECTIVE: We aim to further describe patient-relevant needs and benefits and patient satisfaction with apremilast, including subgroup analyses based on patient characteristics. METHODS: APPRECIATE, a multinational, retrospective, cross-sectional study, enrolled patients with chronic plaque psoriasis who started apremilast according to the European label. Patient Benefit Index (PBI; range 0 (no patient-relevant benefit) to 4 (maximum patient-relevant benefit), global PBI score ≥ 1 indicating minimum patient-relevant benefit and ≥ 3 indicating high benefit) and nine-item Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM-9; range 0-100) were assessed 6 (± 1) months after apremilast initiation and summarized descriptively. Relationships between global PBI and TSQM-9 assessments were analyzed by Pearson correlations. RESULTS: Of 480 enrolled patients, 347 (72.3%) had remained on apremilast at 6 (± 1) months; 90.9% (300/330) achieved global PBI score ≥ 1. Mean (standard deviation) global PBI score was 2.8 (1.2). Higher achievement of global PBI score ≥ 3 was observed in patients with no prior treatments (61.1% (22/36)) or prior phototherapy (64.6% (42/65)) versus prior conventional systemic (54.4% (100/184)) or biologic (38.6% (17/44)) treatment. Strong correlations were observed between the global PBI score and the TSQM-9 global satisfaction and effectiveness subscale scores. CONCLUSION: Patients continuing apremilast for 6 (± 1) months in APPRECIATE reported patient-relevant treatment benefits. Findings suggest that receiving apremilast earlier versus later in treatment management is consistent with greater improvements in patient-relevant treatment outcomes.

Gender differences in patient journey to diagnosis and disease outcomes: results from the European Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis (EMAS).

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the journey to diagnosis, disease characteristics and burden of disease in male and female patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) across Europe. METHOD: Data from 2846 unselected patients participating in the European Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis (EMAS) study through an online survey (2017-2018) across 13 countries were analysed. Sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, diagnosis, disease characteristics and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) [disease activity -BASDAI (0-10), spinal stiffness (3-12), functional limitations (0-54) and psychological distress (GHQ-12)] were compared between males and females using chi-square (for categorical variables) and student t (for continuous variables) tests. RESULTS: In total, 1100 (38.7%) males and 1746 (61.3%) females participated in the EMAS. Compared with males, females reported considerable longer diagnostic delay (6.1 ± 7.4 vs 8.2 ± 8.9 years; p < 0.001), higher number of visits to physiotherapists (34.5% vs 49.5%; p < 0.001) and to osteopaths (13.3% vs 24.4%; p < 0.001) before being diagnosed and lower frequency of HLA-B27 carriership (80.2% vs 66.7%; p < 0.001). In addition, females reported higher degree of disease activity in all BASDAI aspects and greater psychological distress through GHQ-12 (4.4 ± 4.2 vs 5.3 ± 4.1; p < 0.001), as well as a greater use of alternative therapies. CONCLUSION: The patient journey to diagnosis of axSpA is much longer and arduous in females, which may be related to physician bias and lower frequency of HLA-B27 carriership. Regarding PROs, females experience higher disease activity and poorer psychological health compared with males. These results reflect specific unmet needs in females with axSpA needing particular attention. Key Points • Healthcare professionals' perception of axSpA as a predominantly male disease may introduce some bias during the diagnosis and management of the disease. However, evidence about male-female differences in axSpA is scarce. • EMAS results highlight how female axSpA patients report longer diagnostic delay and higher burden of the disease in a large sample of 2846 participants of 13 European countries. • Results reflect unmet needs of European female patients. Healthcare professionals should pay close attention in order to accurately diagnose and efficiently manage axSpA cases while further research should be developed on the cause of reported gender differences.

The role of personal models in clinical management: Exploring health care providers' beliefs about psoriasis.

OBJECTIVES: Individuals' illness representations, including beliefs about psoriasis (a complex immune-mediated condition), and their emotional responses to the condition guide self-management behaviour. It is also plausible that health care providers' illness representations guide their own management of psoriasis. Patients commonly report poor health care experiences related to psoriasis, and the role of health care providers' beliefs, emotions, as well as their knowledge, experiences and behaviours ('personal models') in this is unexplored. This study aimed explore health care providers' personal models of psoriasis. DESIGN AND METHODS: Qualitative analysis of 23 semi-structured interviews with health care professionals providing care for psoriasis patients was performed. Purposive sampling achieved maximum variation regarding participant discipline, level of experience, gender and age. The self-regulatory/common sense model informed data collection and initial data analysis. Principles of framework analysis were used to generate predetermined and emergent key issues related to practitioners' personal models. RESULTS: Three types of personal model emerged. Sophisticated-Linear Model: 70% of practitioners recognized psoriasis as a complex condition but managed it as a skin condition. Mixed Model: 17% of practitioners recognized/managed some elements of psoriasis as complex and some as a skin condition. Sophisticated-Sophisticated Model: 13% recognized and managed psoriasis as a complex condition. Across the data set, five themes emerged illustrating key patterns underpinning these different models including (1) Recognising complexity, (2) Putting skin first, (3) Taking on the complexities of psoriasis with the patient, (4) Aiming for clearance, and (5) Affective experiences within psoriasis consultations. CONCLUSIONS: Health care providers recognized psoriasis as a complex condition but commonly reported managing psoriasis as a simple skin condition. Providers' beliefs and management approaches varied in the extent to which they were consistent with one another; and their emotional experiences during consultations may vary depending upon their personal model. Findings could inform future dermatology training programmes by highlighting the role of health care providers' illness representations in clinical management of the condition. STATEMENT OF CONTRIBUTION: What is already known on this subject? Health behaviour is predicted by underlying beliefs and emotions associated with an illness and its treatment. Few studies have examined health care providers' beliefs and emotions about the illnesses they manage in clinical practice. Many patients are dissatisfied with dermatology consultations and wish to be treated holistically. What does this study add? Qualitative exploration of health care providers' beliefs/emotions revealed their personal models of psoriasis. Providers' personal models of psoriasis vary in coherence and are often skin rather than whole person focused. Further investigation of health care providers' models of psoriasis and their impact on health outcomes is needed.

Can stress reduction interventions improve psoriasis? A review.

Psoriasis remains incurable and many sufferers experience related psychological distress and a lower quality of life comparable with other chronic diseases. A subpopulation of people with psoriasis believes their condition is exacerbated by psychological stress. This review analyses whether stress-reduction interventions can reduce: the physical severity of psoriasis and related psychological distress. A systematic search across EMBASE, MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library SIGLE and PsychInfo, identified 730 trials and 10 were included. Three trials found a significant difference in psoriasis outcomes between groups post-intervention, (p < 0.05). Seven studies included a psychological outcome and three found a significant difference (p < 0.05). Three trials included a quality of life measurement and one of these reported a significant improvement (p < 0.001). Due to low quality evidence it is currently insufficient to judge stress reduction interventions as either effective or ineffective. We make nine recommendations for future research in this multidisciplinary field.