title: Patient-reported outcomes and health-care resource utilization in patients with psoriasis treated with etanercept: continuous versus interrupted treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The 24-week Etanercept Assessment of Safety and Effectiveness (EASE) study evaluated the effectiveness and tolerability of continuous versus interrupted etanercept treatment in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. The objective of this analysis was to assess patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and health-care resource utilization (HRU) data from the EASE study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients received open-label etanercept 50 mg twice weekly for 12 weeks and then received either continued or interrupted (single round of discontinuation and re-treatment with etanercept) etanercept 50 mg once weekly for the second 12 weeks. PROs included the following: 1) the patient global assessments of psoriasis, joint pain, and itching scores; 2) the Dermatology Life Quality Index; 3) the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 vitality domain; 4) the Beck Depression Inventory; 5) the European Quality-of-Life Group Feeling Thermometer; and 6) a patient satisfaction survey. HRU was evaluated using the Economic Implications of Psoriasis patient questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Continuous treatment with etanercept 50 mg twice weekly for 12 weeks followed by 50 mg once weekly for 12 weeks produced sustained and clinically important improvements in PROs and reductions in HRU. Reductions in some outcome measures after treatment discontinuation at week 12 were observed in the interrupted group; however, most changes did not revert to baseline levels, consistent with some residual clinical effect, and re-treatment produced improvements similar to week 12 levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Continuous etanercept treatment provided greater sustained improvements in PROs than interrupted therapy; however, interrupting etanercept therapy, if needed, has predictable and manageable effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Joel M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gelfand
authors.forename: Alexa B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Kimball
authors.forename: Eliot N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Mostow
authors.forename: Chiun-Fang
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Chiou
authors.forename: Vaishali
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: H Amy
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Freundlich
authors.forename: Seth R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Stevens
mesh_terms: D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D000068800:Etanercept; D005260:Female; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012650:Self Disclosure; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D000068800:Etanercept