Disparities in healthcare in psoriatic arthritis: an analysis of 439 patients from 13 countries

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Lucasson F., Kiltz U., KALYONCU U., Leung Y. Y., Palominos P., Canete J., ...More

RMD OPEN, vol.8, no.1, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 8 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1136/rmdopen-2021-002031
  • Journal Name: RMD OPEN
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Keywords: Arthritis, Psoriatic, Outcome Assessment, Health Care, Epidemiology, REPORTED OUTCOME MEASURE, LOW DISEASE-ACTIVITY, RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS, SOCIOECONOMIC DETERMINANTS, VALIDATION, SPONDYLOARTHRITIS, QUESTIONNAIRE, ENTHESITIS, REMISSION, MORTALITY
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Objectives Patient care can vary substantially by country. The objective was to explore differences in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) across countries for disease activity, impact and treatments. Methods A cross-sectional analysis of 13 countries from the Remission/Flare in PsA study (NCT03119805) of consecutive adult patients with definite PsA was performed. Countries were classified into tertiles by gross domestic product (GDP)/capita. Disease activity (Disease Activity in PsA, DAPSA and Minimal Disease Activity, MDA) and their components, disease impact (patient-reported outcomes) and biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) were analysed per country and compared between the three tertiles of GDP/capita by parametric and non-parametric tests. We also explored the percentage of patients with significant disease activity (DAPSA >14) and no ongoing bDMARD prescription. Results In 439 patients (50.6% male, mean age 52.3 years, mean disease duration 10.1 years), disease activity and disease impact were higher in the lowest GDP/capita countries. DAPSA remission and MDA were attained in the lowest tertile in 7.0% and 18.4% patients, vs 29.1% and 49.5% in the middle tertile and 16.8% and 41.3% in the high tertile, respectively (all p<0.001). bDMARDs use was similar in the tertiles (overall mean 61%). The overall rate of patients with DAPSA >14 and no bDMARDs was 18.5%, and was higher in lower GDP/capita countries (p=0.004). Conclusion PsA patients from countries with the lowest GDP/capita, despite similar use of bDMARDs, were more likely to have high disease activity and worse disease impact. There is a need for more equity in healthcare.