Melissa L F Knuckles1, Eugenia Levi2, Jennifer Soung3. 1. a Department of Dermatology , Richmond , KY , USA. 2. b Celgene Corporation , Summit , NJ , USA. 3. c Southern California Dermatology , Santa Ana , CA , USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Patients with moderate plaque psoriasis are often undertreated and may experience unsatisfactory clinical outcomes. Undertreatment may stem partly from a lack of consensus on the definition of moderate psoriasis and appropriate treatments for patients with moderate disease severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An online survey was conducted during October 2015 to determine how US dermatologists in the clinical setting define and treat moderate psoriasis. RESULTS: A total of 150 dermatologists responded to the survey (mean time in practice: 13.5 years). On average, they saw 72 patients with psoriasis per month; 40% of these patients were considered to have moderate psoriasis. Most (95%) reported assessing disease severity based on the percentage of psoriasis-affected body surface area (BSA); 59% also considered location of the affected area. BSA cutoffs used to define moderate psoriasis varied widely (median low and high cutoffs: 5-10%; range: 1-70%). Similarly, wide variation in cutoff ranges was observed for the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), Physician Global Assessment (PGA), and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Primary therapy comprised biologics (47%), prescription topicals (28%), and oral systemics (18%). CONCLUSIONS: The current findings indicate lack of consensus surrounding the definition of moderate psoriasis among US dermatologists.
PURPOSE:Patients with moderate plaque psoriasis are often undertreated and may experience unsatisfactory clinical outcomes. Undertreatment may stem partly from a lack of consensus on the definition of moderate psoriasis and appropriate treatments for patients with moderate disease severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An online survey was conducted during October 2015 to determine how US dermatologists in the clinical setting define and treat moderate psoriasis. RESULTS: A total of 150 dermatologists responded to the survey (mean time in practice: 13.5 years). On average, they saw 72 patients with psoriasis per month; 40% of these patients were considered to have moderate psoriasis. Most (95%) reported assessing disease severity based on the percentage of psoriasis-affected body surface area (BSA); 59% also considered location of the affected area. BSA cutoffs used to define moderate psoriasis varied widely (median low and high cutoffs: 5-10%; range: 1-70%). Similarly, wide variation in cutoff ranges was observed for the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), Physician Global Assessment (PGA), and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Primary therapy comprised biologics (47%), prescription topicals (28%), and oral systemics (18%). CONCLUSIONS: The current findings indicate lack of consensus surrounding the definition of moderate psoriasis among US dermatologists.
Authors: Roland Aschoff; Anthony Bewley; Annunziata Dattola; Clara De Simone; Mourad Lahfa; Mar Llamas-Velasco; Antonio Martorell; Mira Pavlovic; Michael Sticherling Journal: Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) Date: 2021-09-12
Authors: Laura Salgado-Boquete; José Manuel Carrascosa; Mar Llamas-Velasco; Ricardo Ruiz-Villaverde; Pablo de la Cueva; Isabel Belinchón Journal: Life (Basel) Date: 2021-06-29