Studies from National Taiwan University Describe New Findings in Psoriatic Arthritis (Epidemiology of psoriatic disease and current treatment…

China Weekly News

Studies from National Taiwan University Describe New Findings in Psoriatic Arthritis (Epidemiology of psoriatic disease and current treatment patterns from 2003 to 2013: A nationwide, population-based observational study in Taiwan)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at China Weekly News -- Current study results on Autoimmune Diseases and Conditions - Psoriatic Arthritis have been published. According to news reporting originating in Taipei, Taiwan, by VerticalNews journalists, research stated, "Recent global data show an increasing prevalence of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in western countries. The current study analyzed the trend of prevalence rates of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in Taiwan and examined biologic prescription patterns by different specialties."

The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from National Taiwan University, "Data were accessed from the national payer National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. This study protocol was approved by Joint Institutional Review Board established by Medical Research Ethics Foundation (No 13-S-001). Between 2003 and 2013, the prevalence of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis increased by 41% (from 15.54 to 21.90 per 10,000 population) and 191% (from 0.45 to 1.31 per 10,000 population), respectively, while the prevalence of psoriatic arthritis among patients with psoriatic disease increased from 6.3% to 12.7%. Dermatologists are the main caregivers for patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis; however, data suggest a decreasing trend in the proportion of dermatologists for psoriasis patients from 24.7% between 2003 and 2008 to 10.74% between 2008 and 2013, with a corresponding decrease in dermatologists for psoriatic arthritis patients from 62.30% to 44.65% during the same periods, respectively. In 2013, of the 51,191 patients with psoriasis, only 596 (1.16%) received biologics (73.3% by dermatologists and 25.8% by rheumatologists), while 1120 of the 7470 (14.99%) psoriatic arthritis patients received biologics (72.8% by rheumatologists and 223% by dermatologists). The proportion Of biologics use was 1.12% and 7.75% among all patients with only psoriasis and 8.01% and 26.70% among all patients with psoriatic arthritis seen by dermatologists and rheumatologists, respectively. The prevalence of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis is increasing in Taiwan."

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: "The use of biologics in patients with psoriatic arthritis was comparable to that reported in previous studies in the United States and Europe; however, the use of biologics remained low in patients with psoriasis in Taiwan."

For more information on this research see: Epidemiology of psoriatic disease and current treatment patterns from 2003 to 2013: A nationwide, population-based observational study in Taiwan. Journal of Dermatological Science, 2016;84(3):340-345. Journal of Dermatological Science can be contacted at: Elsevier Ireland Ltd, Elsevier House, Brookvale Plaza, East Park Shannon, Co, Clare, 00000, Ireland. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Journal of Dermatological Science - www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-dermatological-science/)

Our news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained by contacting T.F. Tsai, National Taiwan University, Coll Med, Taipei, Taiwan. Additional authors for this research include C.F. Hsieh and T.F. Tsai.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jdermsci.2016.08.535. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase.

Keywords for this news article include: Taipei, Taiwan, Asia, Papulosquamous Skin Diseases and Conditions, Musculoskeletal Diseases and Conditions, Autoimmune Diseases and Conditions, Genetically-Engineered Proteins, Joint Diseases and Conditions, Clinical Trials and Studies, Genetic Engineering, Psoriatic Arthritis, Clinical Research, Bioengineering, Biotechnology, Epidemiology, Dermatology, Biologics, Psoriasis, Taiwan, Asia, National Taiwan University.