Top 5 Most-Read Psoriasis Articles of 2021

This year's most-viewed articles in psoriasis on AJMC.com focused primarily on risk factors involved in the pathogenesis and treatment of the disease, as well as the cost burden experienced by those with concomitant psoriatic arthritis.

Here are the 5 most-viewed psoriasis pieces of 2021:

5. Biologic Use May Decrease Risk of Psoriatic Arthritis in Patients With Psoriasis

A study of patients with psoriasis found that use of biologic treatments may significantly lower the risk of developing psoriatic arthritis (PsA). With 30% of patients with psoriasis shown to develop PsA within 10 years of their initial diagnosis, prior research has suggested that biologic agents could slow PsA disease progression. In their findings, patients with psoriasis who were not treated with biologic agents were at 39% greater risk of developing PsA compared with those who were given the therapies.

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4. Smoking, Periodontitis Linked With Increased Risk of Psoriasis

As periodontitis has been linked with increased incidence and prevalence rates of several immune-mediated systemic inflammatory disorders, researchers sought to examine its relationship with psoriasis. They examined a large cohort derived from the National Health Insurance System claims database in Korea, in which nonsmokers with periodontitis were shown to be at a significant 11% increased risk of psoriasis than those without the condition. Notably, this elevated risk of psoriasis increased to 26.5% for smokers with periodontitis.

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3. High OOP Costs for Treatment of Psoriatic Disease Found in Medicare Beneficiaries

According to an analysis of CMS Prescription Drug Plan Formulary Data from the fourth quarter of 2020, Medicare beneficiaries with psoriatic disease experienced significantly high out-of-pocket (OOP) costs when prescribed specialty medications. Involving those with psoriasis and/or PsA, only 2.4% (risankizumab) to 5.5% (golimumab) of Medicare Part D plans were shown to offer specialty medications with a copay during the initial coverage phase, with most requiring a percentage-based co-insurance for patient cost-sharing.

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2. Infliximab, Adalimumab Use Associated With Risk of Serious Infection in Patients With Psoriasis

With prior safety concerns cited regarding biologic therapy use and risk of serious infection in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis, researchers sought to explore whether this risk may depend on the specific biologic agent used. Using etanercept as the reference comparator, findings indicated that new users of infliximab and adalimumab were at an increased risk of hospitalization due to serious infection, whereas use of ustekinumab was linked with a decreased risk.

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1. Immunosuppressive Psoriatic Drugs Don't Increase Risks for COVID-19 Complications

As the top-read psoriasis article this year, an opinion piece concluded that immunosuppresed patients with psoriasis are not at an increased risk of developing serious COVID-19–related complications. Also noting that biologic and nonbiologic drugs for psoriasis may help mitigate potential issues, use of corticosteroid treatments was conversely not recommended for patients with COVID-19, as they might exacerbate COVID-19–associated lung injury.

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