A Belgian consensus on the definition of a treat-to-target outcome set in psoriasis management

EMPATHY Life in Psoriasis: Embracing Patients' Well-Being in Their Journey of Moderate-to-Severe Psoriasis

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that affects millions of individuals worldwide, impacting their physical and emotional well-being. The management of psoriasis requires effective communication and a strong physician-patient relationship. Objective: We aim to develop a novel algorithm to enhance patient well-being and care in moderate-to-severe psoriasis, considering the time constraints that dermatologists have in public hospitals. Methods: This project employed a multidisciplinary approach, involving collaboration between 14 experienced dermatologists (referred to as Key Opinion Leaders: KOLs) and a psychologist. During three separate meetings (an initial virtual session, a face-to-face meeting, and a final virtual meeting), an algorithm (Embracing Patients' Well-being in their Journey of Moderate-to-Severe psoriasis: EMPATHY), describing the patient's reception through the entire first visit and follow-up visits, was developed and refined. Results: The EMPATHY algorithm provides a step-by-step approach from the moment the patient arrives at reception, through the first visit and on to subsequent visits. This algorithm fills a critical gap in the existing guidelines by specifically addressing how to foster empathy during psoriasis patient visits within time-limited consultations. The algorithm outlines patient-centered strategies at each visit. Key aspects include creating a welcoming environment, active listening, respecting privacy, tailoring communication styles, and managing patient expectations. Conclusions: The EMPATHY algorithm represents a novel and promising approach to improving patient care and well-being in moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Developed together by dermatologists and a psychologist, this algorithm offers healthcare providers practical guidance for managing both initial and follow-up patient visits. While further validation is necessary, the potential for adapting the EMPATHY algorithm to diverse healthcare settings and patient populations holds promise for improving patient outcomes across various chronic conditions.

Treat-to-target in dermatology: A scoping review and International Eczema Council survey on the approach in atopic dermatitis

Treat-to-target (T2T) is a pragmatic therapeutic strategy being gradually introduced into dermatology after adoption in several other clinical areas. Atopic dermatitis (AD), one of the most common inflammatory skin diseases, may also benefit from this structured and practical therapeutic approach. We aimed to evaluate existing data regarding the T2T approach in dermatology, with a specific focus on AD, as well as the views of International Eczema Council (IEC) members on the potential application of a T2T approach to AD management. To do so, we systematically searched for peer-reviewed publications on the T2T approach for any skin disease in the PubMed and Scopus databases up to February 2022 and conducted a survey among IEC members regarding various components to potentially include in a T2T approach in AD. We identified 21 relevant T2T-related reports in dermatology, of which 14 were related to psoriasis, five to AD, one for juvenile dermatomyositis and one for urticaria. In the IEC member survey, respondents proposed treatable traits (with itch, disease severity and sleep problems getting the highest scores), relevant comorbidities (with asthma being selected most commonly, followed by anxiety and depression in adults), recommended specialists that should define the approach in AD (dermatologists, allergists and primary care physicians were most commonly selected in adults), and applicable assessment tools (both physician- and patient-reported), in both adult and paediatric patients, for potential future utilization of the T2T approach in AD. In conclusion, while the T2T approach may become a useful tool to simplify therapeutic goals and AD management, its foundation in AD is only starting to build. A multidisciplinary approach, including a wide range of stakeholders, including patients, is needed to further define the essential components needed to utilize T2T in AD.

Disease control in patients with psoriatic arthritis in real clinical practice in Spain: MiDAS study

OBJECTIVE

MiDAS study assessed the percentage of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients treated in routine clinical practice who achieved control of disease activity according to Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) and Minimal Disease Activity (MDA).

METHODS

Observational, non-interventional, cross-sectional, multicenter study conducted under conditions of routine clinical practice in 36 centers with outpatient rheumatology clinics in Spanish public hospitals. Patients included were adults (≥18 years) with ≥6 months PsA diagnosis according to classification for PsA (CASPAR) criteria and undergoing treatment ≥3 months. The main variable evaluated was the percentage of patients under remission and low disease activity, assessed through DAPSA and MDA.

RESULTS

313 patients with PsA were included: 54.3% male; with mean age of 54.1±12.2 years and mean disease duration of 10.5±9.0 years. Mean C-reactive protein (CRP) serum levels were 4.9±7.3mg/L. At the study visit, 58.5% of patients were in monotherapy (17.6% biological and 40.9% non-biological) and 41.2% were receiving biological and non-biological therapy. 59.4% of patients showed low disease activity (DAPSA≤14) and 19.8% were on remission (DAPSA≤4). Moreover, 51.4% of the patients reached an MDA status (≥5 MDA).

CONCLUSIONS

Around 40% of PsA patients presented uncontrolled disease, highlighting the need to improve the management of these patients in clinical practice.

Impact of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on the treatment of psoriasis with systemic therapies in France: Results from the PSOBIOTEQ cohort

BACKGROUND

The nature of the COVID-19 pandemic led to concerns among patients and physicians about the potential impact of immunosuppressive treatments for chronic diseases such as psoriasis on the risk of severe COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES

To describe treatment modifications and determine the incidence of COVID-19 infection among psoriasis patients during the first wave of the pandemic, and identify the factors associated with these events.

METHODS

Data from PSOBIOTEQ cohort relating to the first COVID-19 wave in France (March to June, 2020), as well as a patient-centred COVID-19 questionnaire, were used to evaluate the impact of lockdown on changes (discontinuations, delays or reductions) in systemic therapies, and to determine the incidence of COVID-19 cases among these patients. Logistic regression models were used to assess associated factors.

RESULTS

Among the 1751 respondents (89.3%), 282 patients (16.9%) changed their systemic treatment for psoriasis, with 46.0% of these changes being initiated by the patients themselves. Patients were more likely to experience psoriasis flare-ups during the first wave if they changed their treatment during this period (58.7% vs 14.4%; P < 0.0001). Changes to systemic therapies were less frequent among patients with cardiovascular diseases (P < 0.001), and those aged ≥ 65 years (P = 0.02). Overall, 45 patients (2.9%) reported having COVID-19, and eight (17.8%) required hospitalization. Risk factors for COVID-19 infection were close contact with a positive case (P < 0.001) and living in a region with a high incidence of COVID-19 (P < 0.001). Factors associated with a lower risk of COVID-19 were avoiding seeing a physician (P = 0.002), systematically wearing a mask during outings (P = 0.011) and being a current smoker (P = 0.046).

CONCLUSIONS

Discontinuation of systemic psoriasis treatments during the first COVID-19 wave (16.9%) - mainly decided by patients themselves (46.0%) - was associated with a higher incidence of disease flares (58.7% vs 14.4%). This observation and factors associated with a higher risk of COVID-19 highlight the need to maintain and adapt patient-physician communication during health crises according to patient profiles, with the aim of avoiding unnecessary treatment discontinuations and ensuring that patients are informed about the risk of infection and the importance of complying with hygiene rules.

Elevating the Standard of Care for Patients with Psoriasis: 'Calls to Action' from Epicensus, a Multistakeholder Pan-European Initiative

INTRODUCTION

Despite advances in treatment options and the management of patients with psoriasis, considerable unmet needs remain. Our objective was to identify ways to elevate the standard of care for patients with psoriasis by combining the perspectives of three important stakeholders: patients, clinicians and payors, and define 'Calls to Action' designed to achieve the identified changes.

METHODS

Eight themes relevant to elevating the standard of care were identified from an insights-gathering questionnaire completed by all three stakeholder groups. A modified Delphi exercise gained consensus on statements informed by the insights. Statements were then used to inspire 'Calls to Action' - practical steps that could be taken to realise the desired changes and elevate the standard of care.

RESULTS

In total, 18 European experts (10 dermatologists, 3 payors and 5 patient representatives) took part in the Delphi process. Consensus was reached on statements relating to all eight themes: improve healthcare systems to better support multidisciplinary team working and digital services, real-world data generation and optimal use, improve patient access, elevate quality-of-life measures as the most important outcomes, involve patients in patient-centred and personalised approaches to care, improve the relevance and reach of guidelines, education, and multistakeholder engagement. 'Calls to Action' common to all three stakeholder groups recognised the need to capitalise on the shift to digital healthcare, the need for consistent input into registries to generate real-world evidence to support guideline development, and the necessity of educating patients on the benefits of reporting outcomes to generate real-world data. The enormous quality-of-life burden and psychological impact of psoriasis, as well as the clinical needs of patients must be better understood, including by healthcare commissioners, so that funding priorities are assessed appropriately.

CONCLUSION

This unique initiative identified a practical 'Call-to-Action Framework' which, if implemented, could help improve the standard of care for patients with psoriasis.

Early intervention in psoriasis: Where do we go from here?

Patients with psoriasis often have comorbidities and are at increased risk of developing several complications compared with the general population. Knowledge on the role of immune mediators and systemic inflammation in psoriasis has led to the hypothesis that early intervention with systemic therapy has the potential to modify the course of the disease and reduce the risk of long-term adverse outcomes. In this article, we address some potential issues that need to be considered before early intervention can be implemented routinely. The first is determining what constitutes "early" intervention for psoriasis. A second point is whether the intervention should be considered for patients with early disease or for selected subsets based on risk stratification. A third important consideration is defining success for early intervention. Finally, adoption of early and effective intervention should be based on high-level evidence. Ideally, randomized trials would be the best strategy to compare early vs. late systemic treatment in patients with psoriasis, probably using the frequency of long-term outcomes as primary endpoint, with cutaneous and pharmacoeconomic outcomes assessed secondarily.

Definitions of Remission in Psoriasis: A Systematic Literature Review from the National Psoriasis Foundation

Psoriasis studies increasingly employ outcomes that indicate complete disease resolution, yet remission and cure are poorly defined for psoriasis. We conducted a systematic literature review to identify definitions of psoriasis remission and cure reported in the literature. Medline, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched on July 22, 2020 for full-text studies providing definitions for psoriasis remission/cure. Definitions were analyzed descriptively for endpoint, time-frame, on/off treatment, patient-reported outcomes, and disease domains. We identified 106 studies that provided 41 unique remission definitions. Most definitions included endpoints based on Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), such as PASI75 (n=16 studies), PASI90 (n=10), PASI100 (n=10), and PASI of 0 (n=3), and descriptive endpoints related to 'skin clearance' (n=18). Few definitions specified time-frame, on/off treatment or other psoriasis-related disease domains. One small consensus-initiative defined drug-free remission for plaque psoriasis by BSA of 0 without any therapy for at least 12 months. While there is no cure for psoriasis, seven studies defined psoriasis cure using similar endpoints to those used to define remission. We identified a variety of definitions of psoriasis remission. These results will inform the development of consensus-based definitions for psoriasis remission to support efforts to improve research and clinical outcomes.

Demographic and Clinical Factors Associated with Patient-Reported Remission in Psoriasis

Introduction

Achievement of remission in psoriasis is a key goal for patients and providers, yet definitions of remission may vary. Some treat-to-target initiatives in psoriasis have focused on degree of skin involvement, while others have also incorporated quality of life (QoL) measures. The goal of this study is to identify factors associated with patient-reported psoriasis remission.

Methods

The National Psoriasis Foundation conducted a survey of a random stratified sample of 1570 individuals with psoriatic disease in the USA. The survey contained questions regarding provider diagnosis of psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis, as well as comorbid conditions and participant demographics. Psoriasis severity was assessed using the Patient Report of Extent of Psoriasis Involvement (PREPI), a validated self-reported measure of body surface area (BSA). Dermatologic-related quality of life was assessed using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Individuals reporting BSA ≤ 3% were asked if they believed their psoriasis was in remission. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with remission.

Results

Of 930 participants reporting BSA ≤ 3%, 479 (51.7%) believed their psoriasis was in remission, with an average remission duration of 31 months. Of those in remission, 79.1% reported current treatment. Multivariate regression revealed that psoriasis remission was independently associated with female sex, lower BSA, less impairment in the Dermatology Life Quality Index and global QoL, biologic use, and concomitant diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis. There was no association with age, race, body mass index, or number of comorbidities.

Conclusion

Overall, patient perception of psoriasis remission was not solely associated with BSA, but also with sex, quality of life, and treatment type.

Loading of Coal Tar in Polymeric Nanoparticles as a Potential Therapeutic Modality for Psoriasis

Coal tar (CT) is a commonly used therapeutic agent in psoriasis treatment. CT formulations currently in clinical use have limitations such as toxicity and skin staining properties, leading to patient nonadherence. The purpose of this study was to develop a nanoparticle (NP) formulation for CT based on biocompatible poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA). CT was entrapped in PLGA NPs by nanoprecipitation, and the resulting NPs were characterized using dynamic light scattering and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to determine the particle size and CT loading efficiency, respectively. In vitro biocompatibility of the NPs was examined in human dermal fibroblasts. Permeation, washability, and staining experiments were carried out using skin-mimetic Strat-M membranes in Franz diffusion cells. The optimal CT-loaded PLGA NPs achieved 92% loading efficiency and were 133 nm in size with a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.10 and a zeta potential of -40 mV, promoting colloidal stability during storage. CT NPs significantly reduced the cytotoxicity of crude CT in human dermal fibroblasts, maintaining more than 75% cell viability at the highest concentration tested, whereas an equivalent concentration of CT was associated with 28% viability. Permeation studies showed that only a negligible amount of CT NPs could cross the Strat-M membrane after 24 h, with 97% of the applied dose found accumulated within the membrane. The superiority of CT NPs was further demonstrated by the notably diminished staining ability and enhanced washability compared to those of crude CT. Our findings present a promising CT nanoformulation that can overcome its limitations in the treatment of psoriasis and other skin disorders.

The Use of Metrics in Daily Practice and the Perception of Psoriasis-Associated Comorbidities: Discrepancies Between Research and Real-World

Objective

To assess the feasibility of the future implementation of a recently published Belgian treat-to-target scoring in daily practice, we investigated to what extent Belgian dermatologists use metrics and take comorbidities into account in the follow-up of psoriasis patients.

Methods

Belgian dermatologists were addressed to fill out an online questionnaire in April 2020.

Results

A total of 149 dermatologists completed the survey. About 55% (n = 78) indicated to do a full-body examination during every visit. Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) was the most frequently used clinical score: 25% (n = 35) and 61% (n = 87) indicated to use it every visit or sometimes (>1/year), respectively. The most frequently used patient-reported outcome scoring system was the Dermatology Life Quality Index: 35% use it sometimes. Overall, there is awareness for the association with metabolic syndrome.

Conclusion

Among tools for follow-up on moderate-to-severe psoriasis patients, Belgian dermatologists most frequently apply full-body examination and PASI score. Patient-reported outcome scoring systems are used infrequently. Psoriasis is perceived as a disease with comorbidities beyond the skin, especially obesity and hypertension. These real-world data on the use of clinical scores and PROs indicate a discrepancy from the academic setting in which new drugs are developed and evaluated. Furthermore, these data are imperative to estimate the feasibility of implementing a treat-to-target strategy published earlier by a Belgian expert group.

Freedom from disease in psoriasis: a Delphi consensus definition by patients, nurses and physicians

Background

Physician‐reported clinical outcome and quality of life (QoL) measures are currently used to assess outcomes and direct treatment of plaque psoriasis. However, people with psoriasis may have different criteria for judging treatment success.

Objectives

To build a unified consensus on the definition of ‘freedom from disease’ from a European stakeholder group, including people with psoriasis, dermatologists and nurses.

Methods

The modified Delphi consensus methodology was used to define ‘freedom from disease’, with a consensus group consisting of people with psoriasis, nurses and dermatologists. This methodology involved people with psoriasis during the entire process and consisted of a 15‐member Facilitating Consensus Panel to drive the programme content and a larger Voting Consensus Panel to vote on defining ‘freedom from disease’. The Facilitating Panel agreed on disease domains, and aspects of each domain were put forward to the Voting Consensus Panel to establish relative importance. Following two voting rounds, a meeting was held to agree on a final consensus statement.

Results

The Facilitating Panel consisted of six patient advocacy group representatives, three specialist nurses and six dermatologists. Voting rounds 1 and 2 were completed by 166 and 130 respondents from the Voting Consensus Panel, respectively. The outputs from both rounds of voting were similar, focusing on normality of living, symptom control, and a relationship of mutual respect and trust between the individual with psoriasis and their healthcare professional. The consensus statement emphasizes that ‘freedom from disease’ is multifaceted and includes the following domains ‘management of clinical symptoms’, ‘psychosocial elements’, ‘QoL and well‐being’, ‘treatment’ and ‘healthcare team support’. ‘Freedom from disease’ means all aspects are addressed.

Conclusions

Freedom from disease in psoriasis is a multicomponent concept including five main domains. This diverse and multifaceted patient perspective will help us to improve understanding of the outcomes of treatment interventions in people with psoriasis.

A New Classification of the Severity of Psoriasis: What's Moderate Psoriasis?

The purpose of this study is to propose a ranking system for the severity of psoriasis. The consensus method of selecting the indices to include and the classification of real patient profiles by an expert panel to create a gold standard of severity were used. The performance of potential cut-offs was evaluated to create a ranking algorithm. The combined use of PASI, BSA, and sPGA may allow the classification of the severity of psoriatic patients. The final algorithm identifies severe patients in a single step (2 out 3 are met: PASI ≥ 11 or BSA ≥ 10 or sPGA ≥ 3), while two steps are required for mild ((2 out 3 are met: PASI ≤ 3 or BSA ≤ 5 or sPGA ≤ 2) and DLQI < 5) and moderate forms (the patient does not meet 2 out 3 (PASI ≥ 11 or BSA ≥ 10 or sPGA ≥ 3) but has a DLQI ≥ 5. A ranking algorithm is presented, consisting of different measures of disease which classifies psoriatic patients into three categories: mild, moderate, and severe.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a common, chronic papulosquamous skin disease occurring worldwide, presenting at any age, and leading to a substantial burden for individuals and society. It is associated with several important medical conditions, including depression, psoriatic arthritis, and cardiometabolic syndrome. Its most common form, chronic plaque or psoriasis vulgaris, is a consequence of genetic susceptibility, particularly in the presence of the HLA-C*06:02 risk allele, and of environmental triggers such as streptococcal infection, stress, smoking, obesity, and alcohol consumption. There are several phenotypes and research has separated pustular from chronic plaque forms. Immunological and genetic studies have identified IL-17 and IL-23 as key drivers of psoriasis pathogenesis. Immune targeting of these cytokines and of TNFα by biological therapies has revolutionised the care of severe chronic plaque disease. Psoriasis cannot currently be cured, but management should aim to minimise physical and psychological harm by treating patients early in the disease process, identifying and preventing associated multimorbidity, instilling lifestyle modifications, and employing a personalised approach to treatment.

Definition of minimal disease activity in psoriasis

OBJECTIVE

To generate an operational definition to adequately reflect the construct 'Minimal Disease Activity (MDA)' in psoriasis.

METHODS

A systematic review of domains included in clinical trials of psoriasis was presented to a panel of dermatologists and patients. Further domains were elicited by panel discussions. Domains (and instruments measuring these) were items of two consecutive Delphi rounds targeting dermatologists from the Psoriasis Group of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology and patients from the Acción Psoriasis association. The instruments selected were used to generate 388 patient vignettes. The expert group then classified these vignettes as 'No MDA/MDA/Unclassifiable'. The items were further reduced by factorial analysis. Using the classification variable as gold standard, several operational constructions were tested in regression models and ROC curves and accuracy was evaluated with area under the curve (AUC).

RESULTS

The following domains were included: itching, scaling, erythema and visibility by 0-10 scales, extension by BSA, impact on quality of life by DLQI, special location and presence of arthritis as yes/no. The definition with the highest AUC and best balance between sensitivity and specificity was the one including no presence of arthritis plus at least three others below the upper limit of the 95% confidence interval (AUC, 0.897; sensitivity, 95.2%, specificity, 84.1%).

CONCLUSION

This study provides, for the very first time, the construct of 'Minimal Disease Activity' in psoriasis as agreed by dermatologists and patients. MDA is defined as absence of active arthritis plus 3 out of 6: itching ≤ 1/10; scaling ≤ 2/10; redness ≤ 2/10; visibility ≤ 2/10; BSA ≤ 2; DLQI ≤ 2; and no lesions in special locations. By design, domains are representative of disease impact. This MDA definition may be used as a measure of adequate management and replace other subjective or restrictive tools.