title: Health-related quality-of-life improvements during 98 weeks of infliximab therapy in patients with plaque-type psoriasis in real-world practice.
abstract: We evaluated the effect of plaque-type psoriasis on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients who received infliximab (IFX) in real-world clinical settings.
  
  
  
  REALITY was a prospective, observational, open-label study of the efficacy and safety of up to 98 weeks of IFX (5 mg/kg infused at weeks 0, 2, 6, and every 8 weeks thereafter) in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque-type psoriasis. Patients with ≥25 % Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) improvement (PASI 25) at week 50 were eligible for the Extended Treatment Phase (treatment to week 98). Inclusion criteria were diagnosis of plaque-type psoriasis, age ≥18 years, decision to start IFX, and patient consent. Key secondary efficacy outcomes included the Dermatologic Life Quality Index (DLQI; mean DLQI scores, attainment of DLQI 0/1), which was analyzed over 98 weeks. Post hoc analyses examined improvement in DLQI and the relationship between PASI and DLQI.
  
  
  
  In the Treatment Phase, patients (n = 516, 66.0 % men, mean age 46.4 years) had a mean baseline PASI of 18.1. Mean DLQI improved from 12.7 at baseline to 4.7 [mean change (95 % CI); -8.0 (-8.9, -7.1)] at week 50; 64.0 % (229/358) of patients improved by ≥5 DLQI points. At week 50 (n = 362), 37.6 % (95 % CI; 32.7, 42.7) achieved a DLQI of 0. In the Extended Treatment Phase, patients (n = 167, 68.3 % men, mean age 46.6 years) had a mean baseline PASI of 20.4. Mean DLQI improved from 12.3 at baseline to 2.8 at week 98 [mean change (95 % CI); -9.4 (-10.8, -8.0)]; 68.6 % (96/140) of patients improved by ≥5 DLQI points. At week 98 (n = 141), 47.5 % (95 % CI; 39.4, 55.7) achieved a DLQI of 0.
  
  
  
  Patients with plaque-type psoriasis who received treatment with IFX for 50 weeks or up to 98 weeks reported substantial HRQoL improvement.
authors: Division of Dermatology, University of Toronto and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada. neil.shear@sunnybrook.ca.
authors: N H
authors: NH
authors: Shear
authors: Department of Dermatology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Hartmann
authors: Department of Pediatric Dermatology, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors: M E
authors: ME
authors: Toledo-Bahena
authors: Department of Dermatology, Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement du CHU de Québec, Quebec, QC, Canada.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Gilbert
authors: Department of Dermatology, University of Athens, Hygeia Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Katsambas
authors: Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Yao
authors: Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA. zoran.popmihajlov@merck.com.
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Popmihajlov
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D000069285:Infliximab
keywords: Dermatologic Life Quality Index; Infliximab; Long-term treatment; Patient subgroups; Quality of life