Characterization of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Moderate to Severe Psoriasis

Background: The Patient Benefit Index (PBI) is a recently developed instrument to assess patient satisfaction with treatment. It has been applied to only a limited number of psoriasis patients. Objective: Characterization of patient-reported outcomes (PRO) in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis Methods: 1,787 patients with plaque psoriasis were documented. Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), body surface area (BSA), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and PBI were determined. Correlations were calculated and the persistence of PBI improvement and strength of treatment effect were evaluated. A regression analysis was performed to characterize predictors of PBI and DLQI improvements. Results: Significant correlations exist between Delta PASI/Delta BSA and Delta DLQI. Also, DLQI and PBI are correlated. Improvement in the skin condition has a positive and sustainable impact on all need dimensions of the PBI. The best early predictor for PBI was PASI 75 at treatment week 8, relevant factors predicting quality of life were PBI/subscale 4, (reducing physical impairment), Delta BSA and Delta PASI. Conclusion: Improvement in skin condition correlates with improvements in quality of life in patients with plaque psoriasis. Successful treatment leads to significant and sustainable patient benefit. While PBI subscale 4 is a good predictor for quality of life, more work is necessary to identify potential predictors for patient benefit. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel