Medical resource consumption of moderate/severe psoriasis in a private health organization of Buenos Aires, Argentina,

Abstract Background: Despite the economic burden of psoriasis for patients and societies, scant information exists regarding the impact and burden of the disease in Argentina. Objective: The objective of this study was to estimate medical resource consumption and direct health care costs for patients with moderate/severe psoriasis in Buenos Aires, Argentina from the perspective of the payer. Methods: Adults with moderate/severe psoriasis (severity was defined as receiving systemic treatment), during January 2010-January 2014, aged 18 years and older, members of the Italian Hospital Medical Care Program with at least 18 months of follow-up were included. All data on hospitalizations, drug prescription, outpatient episodes, consultations, and investigations/tests in the 12 months before inclusion in the study were considered for the estimation of medical resource consumption and direct health care costs. First-quarter 2018 costs were obtained from the IHMCP and converted into US dollars (using the January 2018 exchange rate). Results: A total of 791 patients were included. The mean age at diagnosis was 34 ± 12 years. Almost 65% of the patients had a dermatologist as their usual source of care, 43% had internists, and 14% had rheumatologists. The average yearly direct cost was US$ 5326 (95% CI: 4125-7896) per patient per year. Study limitation: The single center design and the retrospective nature are the main limitations. Conclusion: This is the first Argentine study that evaluated the costs of moderate/severe psoriasis by taking into consideration the direct medical costs of the disease.

The association between psoriasis and health-related quality of life, work productivity, and healthcare resource use in Brazil

Abstract: Background: Psoriasis is a chronic, immune mediated inflammatory condition that affects a significant amount of the global population. Yet geographic variability in the consequences of psoriasis warrants region-level analyses. Objective: The current study contributes to the psoriasis outcomes literature by offering a comprehensive assessment of the humanistic and economic burden in Brazil. Methods: The 2012 Brazil National Health and Wellness Survey (N=12,000) was used to assess health-related quality of life (Short Form-12, version 2), work productivity, and healthcare resource use associated with experiencing psoriasis vs. no psoriasis, along with varying levels of psoriasis severity. Results: A total of 210 respondents reported diagnosis of psoriasis (N=157, 42, and 11 reporting mild, moderate, and severe psoriasis, respectively). Compared with controls, respondents with psoriasis reported diminished mental component summary scores and health utilities, as well as increased presenteeism, activity impairment, and physician visits over the past six months, adjusting for covariates. Among those with psoriasis, physical health decreased as psoriasis severity increased. Although work productivity and healthcare resource utilization did not differ with psoriasis severity, the high rates of productivity loss (e.g. 45.5% presenteeism in the severe psoriasis group) suggest an economic burden. Study limitations: Cost analyses were not performed, and cross-sectional patient-reported data limit causal conclusions and may reflect reporting biases. Conclusions: Nevertheless, these results suggest a significant burden to patients with psoriasis across both humanistic and economic outcomes. The association between psoriasis and mental health aspects and health utilities were particularly strong and exceeded what would be considered clinically meaningful.

Aspectos económicos, sociales y laborales de la psoriasis II / Economic, social and working aspects of psoriasis II

La psoriasis tiene un fuerte impacto sobre la calidad de vida de los pacientes, en especial en la esfera psicosocial, afectándolo en lo personal, laboral, sexual y en su vida de relación. Se diseñó un cuestionario que incluía 43 preguntas donde se evaluaron 103 pacientes en el año 1996. Los objetivos fueron: 1) conocimiento de la enfermedad por los pacientes; 2) tratamientos previos efectuados; 3) impacto socioeconómico de la psoriasis en sus vidas; 4) coincidencias y discrepancias con cuestionario similar realizado en 1973. Conclusiones: - La encuesta refleja el fuerte impacto de la psoriasis sobre la calidad de vida. - La desinformación que presentan los pacientes a lo largo de los años. - La influencia negativa de los medios de comunicación

Costo de la terapéutica de la psoriasis / The cost of treatment of the psoriasis

El objetivo fue determinar el costo de un mes de tratamiento para la psoriasis en placas. Se consultó en la literatura los regímenes de tratamiento recomendados y la dosificación. Existe diferencia significativa en los costos por el medicamento seleccionado, esto depende de las características de la enfermedad y el enfermo