Physician perspectives in the management of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: results from the population‐based Multinational Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis survey

BACKGROUND: Available literature on psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) demonstrates a tremendous burden of disease and suggests underdiagnosis and undertreatment. OBJECTIVE: To obtain real‐world physician perspectives on the impact of psoriasis and PsA and its treatment on patients' daily lives, including perceptions of, and satisfaction with, current therapies. METHODS: The Multinational Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (MAPP) surveyed dermatologists (n = 391) and rheumatologists (n = 390) in North America (Canada and the United States) and Europe (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and United Kingdom). RESULTS: Dermatologists classified 20.3% and 25.7% of their patients as having severe psoriasis and severe PsA respectively; rheumatologists indicated that 48.4% of their PsA patients had active disease. Of the psoriasis patients complaining of joint pain, only 33.0% had a diagnosis of PsA. An impact on daily activities or social/emotional well‐being was recognized by 57.2% to 79.3% of physicians. In patients with moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis, dermatologists reported 74.9% were receiving topical therapy, 19.5% conventional oral therapy and 19.6% biologics. Dermatologists and rheumatologists reported similar rates of topical (≈45%) and biologic (≈30%) therapy utilization for their PsA patients; conventional oral therapy was more often prescribed by rheumatologists (63.4%) vs. dermatologists (35.2%). Reasons for not initiating or maintaining systemic therapies were related to concerns about long‐term safety, tolerability, efficacy and costs (biologics). CONCLUSION: Physicians in North America and Europe caring for patients with psoriasis and PsA acknowledge unmet treatment needs, largely concerning long‐term safety/tolerability and efficacy of currently available therapies; evidence suggests underdiagnosis of PsA and undertreatment of psoriasis among dermatologists.