Questionnaire Survey on the Treatment of Psoriasis Patients Who Achieved Remission With Biologics

Abstract

The introduction of biological agents has significantly improved therapeutic outcomes for patients with psoriasis. However, the long-term use of biologics may present substantial burdens for patients due to various factors. Therefore, identifying effective maintenance therapy is important to reduce treatment burden while maintaining disease control. We conducted a questionnaire-based study to assess patient satisfaction, quality of life, and concerns with ongoing biologic therapy, an oral treatment, as maintenance therapy in psoriasis vulgaris patients in remission. We first surveyed patient-reported outcomes, including treatment satisfaction, quality of life, and concerns with ongoing biologic therapy. Between December 2020 and June 2022, a total of 209 patients with psoriasis vulgaris, including those with joint symptoms, were enrolled. The mean Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score was 0.30, and the mean Dermatology Life Quality Index score was 0.25, confirming that patients remained in remission. The majority of patients (96.1%) reported overall satisfaction with biologic therapy, while 98.6% were satisfied with the therapeutic efficacy. However, 18.2% of patients reported pain, distress, or anxiety related to injection administration, 8.2% expressed concerns regarding treatment safety, and 38.0% reported dissatisfaction with the financial burden of biologic therapy. While patient satisfaction with the therapeutic effects of biologic agents was high, concerns regarding treatment cost and uncertainty about the duration of therapy remained prominent. These findings underscore the need for alternative maintenance strategies, such as oral therapies, to optimize long-term disease management and improve patient adherence and quality of life. Although this questionnaire-based analysis did not include the administration of oral therapies such as apremilast, it provides insights that may support future consideration of oral maintenance treatments for patients with psoriasis.

Trial Registration: Japan Registry of Clinical Trials: jRCTs031200238