Palmoplantar Pustulosis has a Greater Disease Burden than Plaque Psoriasis: Real-World Evidence From the CorEvitas Psoriasis Registry

Abstract

Background Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) is a rare skin disease characterized by episodes of neutrophilic pustules on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Current treatments for PPP have limited efficacy, and there is little real-world evidence characterizing the disease burden of PPP in patients. Objective To describe and compare the clinical characteristics and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of patients with PPP with those of patients with plaque psoriasis. Methods This real-world study used data from patients with PPP or plaque psoriasis enrolled in the CorEvitas Psoriasis Registry. Disease characteristics, historical medical data, PROs, and quality-of-life measures were compared between patients with PPP and those with plaque psoriasis. These measures were also compared following patient stratification by body surface area involvement or Psoriasis Area and Severity Index. This study is purely descriptive; no hypothesis testing was performed. Results In this data set, patients with PPP (n = 64) reported higher mean overall pain, using the visual analog scale, relative to those with plaque psoriasis (n = 4894). Patients with PPP also reported a greater proportion of work hours missed or affected; greater impairment of work; and greater impairment of daily activity than patients with plaque psoriasis. Similar effects were observed irrespective of patient stratification. Conclusion Generally, PPP was associated with worse PROs and a greater impact on quality of life compared with plaque psoriasis. These findings highlight a need to develop effective therapies for PPP to improve disease management.