title: First-Line Fixed-Combination Psoriasis Treatment Is Associated With Lower Healthcare Costs.
abstract: Treatment of psoriasis is associated with significant healthcare-related costs. A retrospective, observational study was conducted to investigate whether first-line treatment with calcipotriene/betamethasone dipropionate (CBD) fixed-combination topical products would lower the cost impact of psoriasis compared with using the fixed-combination product later in the course of treatment. Patients were classified as being initially treated with CBD combination products (cohort A, n=7307) or other topical psoriasis medications (cohort B, n=9670). We included only patients who, at some point after diagnosis, were prescribed a CBD fixed-combination product. During the 1-year followup, the mean±standard deviation values and number of total office visits and psoriasis-related office visits were significantly lower in cohort A (13.36±14.39; 2.79±7.60) than in cohort B (16.08±16.68; 4.25±10.23) (bothP<.0001). Mean total healthcare costs were also significantly lower for cohort A ($7785.80±$15,255.60; median, $3411.30) than for cohort B ($11,757.20±$19,747.60; median, $5595.80) (P<.0001). Compared with other topical psoriasis medications, first-line treatment with CBD fixed-combination topical products was associated with fewer office visits and lower total healthcare costs.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Pathology & Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC; sfeldman@wakehealth.edu.
authors: Steven R
authors: SR
authors: Feldman
authors: LEO Pharma Inc, Parsippany, NJ.
authors: Eugenia
authors: E
authors: Levi
authors: Outcomes Incorporated, Livingston, NJ.
authors: Prathamesh
authors: P
authors: Pathak
authors: Outcomes Incorporated, Livingston, NJ.
authors: Sonali
authors: S
authors: Kakatkar
authors: Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA.
authors: Rajesh
authors: R
authors: Balkrishnan
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D009819:Office Visits / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; C517164:betamethasone dipropionate, calcipotriol drug combination; D001623:Betamethasone; D002117:Calcitriol