Survey Shows Psoriasis Care Falling Short of Recommended Clinical Guidelines

News provided by

The Psoriasis Association

04 Nov, 2013, 10:29 GMT

NORTHAMPTON, England, November 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

A recent survey shows that two thirds of dermatologists do not refer to the most recent and comprehensive guidelines available for the management of psoriasis,[1] a chronic immune-mediated condition which affects up to 1.8 million people in the UK.[2] Psoriasis is associated with significant psychological, social and physical implications on patients' quality of life,[3] and latest guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides clear recommendations on the management of psoriasis, to standardise the wide variations in clinical practice across the UK.[4],[5]

Helen McAteer, Chief Executive of The Psoriasis Association, says "The latest NICE recommendations highlight that people with psoriasis should have comprehensive management of their condition, which includes ongoing monitoring and reviews of the physical and psychological impact, along with access to treatments and healthcare professionals when appropriate. Whilst dermatologists clearly see the value in the assessment tools available to them, further progress must be made to ensure all patients have a PASI and DLQI assessment."

In National Psoriasis Week, the Psoriasis Association calls for patients to be in control of their condition, with Helen McAteer concluding that "patients should not be afraid to ask their doctor for PASI and DLQI assessments, to start a conversation about the impact of the condition and to ensure they are receiving the best possible care and most appropriate treatment for their psoriasis."

One year on from their publication only one third of dermatologists surveyed referred to the NICE guidelines on the assessment and management of psoriasis as a primary source of guidance.[1] In fact, 38% of dermatologists still refer to guidelines which are now over four years old,[1],[6] which are not representative of the latest data and information available.

The NICE guidelines recommend that dermatologists should assess their patients' psoriasis severity regularly using the PASI (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index) assessment tool, and state that the assessment of disease severity is fundamental to delivering high-quality health care.[4] While 86% of dermatologists surveyed said they found the PASI useful in monitoring changes in severity of psoriasis,[1] a 2012 survey of psoriasis patients showed that only one third of psoriasis patients have a PASI score.[7]

Psoriasis can be a highly stigmatising condition and assessment of the impact of psoriasis on a person's wellbeing is also crucial. Psoriasis can contribute to low self-esteem, depression, relationship breakdown and absence from the workplace, and has an impact on health related quality of life that is comparable to other major medical conditions.[4]

NICE guidelines recommend the use of the Dermatology Life Quality Index, (DLQI) to assess the impact of psoriasis.[4] The survey results show that 82% of dermatologists find the DLQI useful in monitoring patients' conditions,[1] and yet 87% of patients surveyed in 2012 were unaware of this assessment tool.[7]

Notes to Editors

This press release was funded by Janssen.

About psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated disease which is characterised by raised and inflamed lesions on the skin. It affects up to 1.8 million people in the UK.[2] Psoriasis can occur at any age, but more often appears between late teenage years and early thirties, and between the ages of 50 and 60.[8] It can often be itchy and painful and is associated with multiple physical and psychological burdens, such as depression.[4] Visit http://www.psoriasis360.com or http://www.psoriasis-association.org.uk for further information.

About the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and Dermatology of Life Quality Index (DLQI)

The PASI is a free and simple, painless assessment which takes into account how bad a patient's psoriasis plaques are[9] (how thick, red or sore they are) and how much of the body is affected, to come up with a score. The score is given as a number from 0 (not affected at all) to 72 (very severely affected). If the PASI score is more than 10, the disease is classified as moderate to severe.

Psoriasis is much more than a physical disease and can be considered severe if it has a profound psychological effect on a person's quality of life. The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) is recommended to assess the impact of psoriasis on quality of life. A score between 0 and 30 is calculated, with anything over 10 being classed as having a severe impact on quality of life.

An interactive PASI calculator (available as an iPhone/iPad app or PC tool) for calculating a PASI score can be downloaded at: http://www.psoriasis360.com  

Mild
Only a few patches, less than 3% of the skin surface[10]

Moderate
3% to 10% of the skin surface[10]

Severe
More than 10% of the skin surface[10]

About the survey

The dermatologist survey is part of a joint collaboration between The Psoriasis Association and Janssen to help educate patients and doctors about how the medical severity of psoriasis is assessed. The survey was conducted by medeConnect Healthcare Insight, part of the Doctors.net.uk group.

About The Psoriasis Association

The Psoriasis Association (http://www.psoriasis-association.org.uk) is the leading national membership organisation for people affected by psoriasis - patients, families, carers and health professionals. Founded in 1968 by Dr Dick Coles, a Consultant Dermatologist in Northampton, the Association has three main aims:

1. To support people who have psoriasis
2. To raise awareness about psoriasis

3. To fund research into the causes, treatments and care of psoriasis

About Janssen

At Janssen, we are dedicated to addressing and solving some of the most important unmet medical needs of our time in immunology, oncology, neuroscience, infectious diseases and vaccines, and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.  Driven by our commitment to patients, we bring innovative products, services and solutions to people throughout the world.

The legal entity for Janssen in the UK and Ireland is Janssen-Cilag Ltd. Please visit http://www.janssen.co.uk for more information.

References:

  1. Dermatologist survey. Data on file. October 2013.
  2. The Psoriasis Association. Available at: https://www.psoriasis-association.org.uk/pages/view/about-psoriasis . Accessed October 2013.
  3. International Federation of Psoriasis Associations. Psoriasis is a Serious Disease Deserving Global Attention. Available at: http://www.ifpa-pso.org/getfile.ashx?cid=279366&cc=3&refid=18. Accessed October 2013.
  4. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Psoriasis. Assessment and management of psoriasis. Clinical Guideline: methods, evidence and recommendations. October 2012
  5. Eedy DJ, Griffiths CE, Chalmers RJ et al. (2009) Care of patients with psoriasis: an audit of U.K. services in secondary care. British Journal of Dermatology. 160: 557-64.
  6. British Association of Dermatologists' guidelines for biologic interventions for psoriasis 2009. British Journal of Dermatology 2009; 161:987-1019
  7. The Know Your PASI Follow-Up Survey. Data on file. October 2012
  8. The Psoriasis Association. Available at: http://www.psoriasis-association.org.uk/pages/view/about-psoriasis  Accessed August 2013.
  9. Mrowietz U et al. Definition of treatment goals for moderate to severe psoriasis: A European consensus. Archives of Dermatological Research 2011; 303: 1-10
  10. US National Psoriasis Foundation. Available at http://www.psoriasis.org/about-psoriasis/treatments/severity Accessed October 2013.

For further information please contact:

Lisa Bashorum
Publicis Life Brands Resolute
Phone: +44(0)20-7397-7495
Email: lisa.bashorum@publicislifebrandsresolute.com

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