Real-World Impact of Calcipotriol/Betamethasone Dipropionate Aerosol Foam on Quality of Life in Patients With Plaque Psoriasis: A Prospective Observational Study

Abstract

Background and Aim: Quality of life (QoL) of psoriasis patients treated with calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate (Cal/BD) foam has not been thoroughly evaluated in real-world settings. This study evaluated the change in plaque psoriasis patients’ QoL after 4 weeks of first treatment with Cal/BD foam and after 6 months under daily practice conditions.

Methods: A prospective, noninterventional study evaluated QoL, treatment adherence, satisfaction, and efficacy through the dermatology life quality index (DLQI), the Morisky-Green scale, the treatment satisfaction questionnaire for medication (TSQM-9), and the change in the body surface area (BSA) with plaque psoriasis, among others.

Results: A total of 172 adult patients with plaque psoriasis were included. After 4 weeks of treatment, 53.5% of patients had a DLQI score ≤ 1. Mean absolute change in the DLQI score from baseline was −4.2 after 4 weeks of treatment and −4.0 after the 6-month follow-up (p < 0.0001). Improvement in the BSA was statistically significant after the first treatment period and after the 6-month follow-up with a mean reduction of 2.4% and 2.6%, respectively (p < 0.0001). Mean absolute change in global satisfaction between the end of the 4-week treatment period and the 6-month follow-up was −4.3 (p = 0.0049). In total, 41% of patients were compliant after the first treatment period, and 55.3% were moderately compliant. Higher patient treatment satisfaction was moderately correlated with lower DLQI scores after 4 weeks (r = −0.527; p < 0.0001). Statistically significant differences between DLQI groups were found in the BSA: patients with DLQI ≤ 1 after 4 weeks of treatment had a lower BSA than patients with DLQI > 1 (1.3 ± 1.8 vs. 2.8 ± 2.7, respectively; p < 0.0001).

Conclusion: After 4 weeks of treatment, daily use of Cal/BD foam in plaque psoriasis patients resulted in an improvement in QoL that was related to an improvement in both satisfaction and efficacy.