Poster abstracts
≥18 years of age with chronic moderate-to-severe psoriasis at least
6 months prior to baseline, with a Psoriasis Area and Severity
Index (PASI) score > 10 at baseline, and pruritus intensity ≥30 on
a 100-point Visual Analogue Scale (VAS, the worst itching within
a recall period of 24 hours), were included. In an ex ploratory ba-
seline analysis, correlation coefficients were calculated between
ItchyQoL outputs and individual baseline characteristics based
on Spearman‘s (r) and Kendall rank correlations (t). A multiple
linear regression model was performed to assess the effect of
exploratory variables correlating with the ItchyQoL score and
achieving statistical significance (p-value < 0.05).
Results: The study included 130 subjects with psoriasis. The
subjects had a mean age of 46.8 years (standard deviation [SD],
12.30) and majority (71.5%) were in the age group of 35–64 years.
The mean (SD) time since first diagnosis of psoriasis and psoriatic
arthritis (PsA) was 19.5 (13.81) and 17.2 (18.30) years, respectively;
13.8% of subjects had PsA. The mean (SD) baseline PASI, patient
benefit index (PBI), and ItchyQoL score was 23.9 (10.85), 84.2
(24.17), and 78.7 (17.42) respectively, indicating severe disease
activity and pruritus. The baseline ItchyQoL score showed moderate
correlation with baseline VAS scores for average and worst pruritus
(r: 0.542 [95% CI: 0.41, 0.65] and 0.547 [95% CI: 0.41, 0.66]; t:
0.381 [95% CI: 0.22, 0.52] and 0.383, 95% CI: 0.23, 0.52]) and
a strong correlation with baseline dermatology life quality index
(DLQI) scores (r: 0.803 [95% CI: 0.73, 0.86]; t: 0.622 [95% CI:
0.50, 0.72]. Furthermore the multiple linear regression analysis
showed substantial dependency of QoL measured by ItchyQoL
for VAS (average pruritus last 24 h), duration of psoriasis and
health-related patient needs as measured by patient benefit index.
Conclusions: ItchyQoL assessment demonstrated that subjects
with psoriasis are highly burdened by pruritus and show severely
impaired quality of life. The correlation between pruritus intensity,
ItchyQoL- and DLQI questionnaire results suggests the need for
routine assessment of pruritus in clinical practice.
P135
QUALITY OF LIFE AND PSYCHOSOCIAL
IMPLICATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH PSORIASIS
Anargyros Kouris 1 , Eftychia Platsidaki 1 , Alexandros Katoulis 2 , Va-
siliki Markanton 1 , Christos Christodoulou 2 , Evangelos Balaskas 1 ,
Georgios Kontochristopoulos 1
Andreas Sygros Skin Hospital, 2 Attikon University Hospital, Athens,
Greece
1
Introduction: Psoriasis is a common, long-term skin disease that
affects approximately 1.5–3% of the population. The burden of
living with psoriasis is equivalent to or greater than that seen in
other long-term conditions, such as cardiac failure and chronic
lung disease. The stigma provoked by the disease, often lead
to the discontinuation of daily activities and social withdrawal.
Nevertheless, these effects of psoriasis are seldom recognized and
often undertreated.
Objectives: The aim of the study is to evaluate the quality of life,
anxiety and depression, self-esteem and loneliness in patients
with psoriasis.
Methods: Ninety-eight patients with psoriasis were enrolled in the
study. The quality of life, depression and anxiety, loneliness and
self-esteem of the patient were assessed using the Dermatology
Life Quality Index, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the
UCLA loneliness Scale (UCLA-Version 3) and Rosenberg’s Self-
esteem Scale, respectively.
Results: The Dermatology Quality of Life Index score among pso-
riasis patients was 13.52 ± 4.58. They had statistically significantly
higher scores according to the Hospital Anxiety and Depression
Scale -anxiety subscale (p = 0.031)-compared with healthy volun-
teers. Moreover, a statistically significant difference was found
between the two groups concerning the UCLA-scale (p = 0.032)
and RSES-scale (p < 0.0001). Female patients presented with lower
self-esteem than male patients.
55
P136
SWEDISH PSORIATIC PATIENTS’ PERSPECTIVE OF
THEIR DISEASE. RESULTS FROM AN OBSERVATIONAL
PATIENT SURVEY
Charlotta Enerbäck 1 , Sofie Fors 2 , Anna-Karin Dahlborn 2
Department of Dermatology, Linköping University Hospital, Linköping,
Sweden, 2 Novartis
1
Introduction: A global patient survey was adapted and implemen-
ted in Sweden, in order to explore and understand the patients’ view
on their disease, as well as the personal and emotional impact of
their psoriasis. The focus of the survey was the patient’s perception
of the possibility to achieve clear skin, and how having clear skin
could affect their quality of life. A publication based on earlier
data is under review.
Methods: The Swedish “Clear about Psoriasis” survey was conduc-
ted from June 16 2017 to August 8 2017. Recruitment was made
via online panels and patient organizations. Validated methods
were used to assess severity of disease and health-related quality
of life. The survey consisted of multiple-choice questions, no
definition of clear skin was given, and spontaneous feelings/per-
ceptions were reported. Respondents (≥18 years old) were required
to have current plaque psoriasis, for which they had received a
medical diagnosis and should not have participated in an online
survey about psoriasis in the preceding four weeks. The analysis
included only patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis,
defined as a Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score ≥10, or
a PASI score 5.0–9.9 with plaques in visible and/or in sensitive
areas, such as the face and genitals.
Results: In total, 54 patient responses were completed and analy-
zed. Mean age was 45 years and 80% were female. The average
self-assessed PASI score was 16.0, 26% had PASI 5.0–9.9, 74%
PASI > 10 and 54% reported to have psoriatic arthritis. Current
treatment allowed 44% of patients to achieve clear or almost clear
skin. Clear or almost clear skin was believed to be achievable by
30% of the patients. Of patients reaching clear or almost clear
skin, 71% had talked to their physician about their aim for clear
skin. Among patients who have not achieved clear or almost clear
skin, 47% had spoken to their physician about their aim. 57% of
the patients were satisfied with their current treatment. The most
important reasons for treatment satisfaction were less itching (81%),
and the achievement of less pain and soreness (55%). Not achieving
clear skin was the major reas on for dissatisfaction. Discrimination
or humiliation has been experienced by 98%. About 69% have
been asked if they are contagious. Relationships were affected and
52% avoided to have sex. Worklife was affected by 65% of the
respondents. For 58% of patients it took more than 5 years to get
a treatment that resulted in clear or almost clear skin. During the
last 6 months, 24% of employed patients had taken at least one day
off work due to their disease whilst 5% took more than 14 days.
Conclusions: This survey shows that a majority of patients do not
believe achieving clear or almost clear skin is possible and they
are not comfortable to talk to their physician about it. Furthermore,
patients encounter a stigmatizing environment. Better treatment
as well as improved patient information is needed.
Novartis is grateful to Psoriasisförbundet for facilitating the survey.
P137
IXEKIZUMAB PROVIDES GREATER CUMULATIVE
BENEFITS VERSUS USTEKINUMAB OVER 24 WEEKS
FOR PATIENTS WITH MODERATE-TO-SEVERE
PSORIASIS IN A RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLIND
PHASE 3B CLINICAL TRIAL
Andrew Blauvelt 1 , Mark Lomaga 2 , Russel Burge 3 , Baojin Zhu 3 ,
Carsten Henneges 3 , Wei Shen 3 , David Shrom 3 , Martin Dossen-
bach 3 , Andreas Pinter 4
Oregon Medical Research Center, 2 DermEdge Research, 3 Eli Lilly and
Company, 4 University Hospital Frankfurt
1
Acta Derm Venereol 2018