title: Real-world outcome analysis of continuously and intermittently treated patients with moderate to severe psoriasis after switching to a biologic agent.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinical studies of continuous versus intermittent biologic therapy for moderate to severe psoriasis demonstrate improved efficacy with continuous treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyse Swedish real-world data of continuously and intermittently treated biologic-naïve patients after switching to a biologic agent.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is an observational study based on PsoReg, the Swedish registry for systemic psoriasis treatment. Outcome effects in biologic-naïve patients who switched to a biologic agent (n = 351) were analysed in groups of continuous, intermittent and terminated treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intermittently treated patients (n = 50) reported higher Psoriasis Area and Severity Index and Dermatology Life Quality Index values after switching than patients with continuous (n = 260) or terminated treatment (n = 41).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reason for intermittent treatment was not recorded. The intermittently treated patients may be a heterogeneous group and a limitation is that it cannot be determined whether less than continuous use was offered to handle negative aspects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with continuous biologic treatment tend to achieve better outcomes compared to intermittently treated patients.
authors.affiliation: Swedish Institute for Health Economics, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Frida
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hjalte
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Steen Carlsson
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmitt-Egenolf
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001688:Biological Products / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D057915:Drug Substitution; D000068800:Etanercept / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013548:Sweden; D000069549:Ustekinumab / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001688:Biological Products; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D000069285:Infliximab; D000069549:Ustekinumab; D000068879:Adalimumab; D000068800:Etanercept