Treatment of patients with psoriasis resulting from a review of previously unmet needs, with particular reference to the new line of treatment with dimethyl fumarate (DMF): experts' recommendations

• Published in: Journal of health policy & outcomes research no. 2; pp. 1 - 8
• Main Authors: Owczarek, Witold, Niewiedzioł, Marta, Kalinowska, Agnieszka, Pruszko, Cezary, Narbutt, Joanna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 11-08-2019
• ISSN: 2299-1247; 2299-1247
• DOI: 10.7365/JHPOR.2019.2.1

Psoriasis has a significant impact on patients’ physical and mental state. Their quality of life is often impaired. What is more, despite the involvement of a significant number and type of health care services and significant financial outlays, psoriasis patients in Poland are treated suboptimally and non-cost-effectively (large percentage – 11.1% – of hospitalizations because of psoriasis, the longest hospitalization of patients with psoriasis among other dermatological patients – 8.6 days, treatment outside their administrative region – 58.1% of hospitalized patients). Psoriasis management is based on a sequential therapy. Biological treatment is available only to a limited group of patients with the most severe disease, what indicates the desirability of widening prescription-based systemic treatments that could be used prior to biological treatment. This would increase the possibility of treatment individualization by all dermatologists. In order to achieve optimal treatment results, patients should be offered to be treated with several treatment lines because it is not known which drug will be effective in their case. Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is the one of new drugs, that meets the criteria for an additional systemic treatment option, prior to biological treatment. DMF therapy is associated with significant health benefits, which include improving the quality of life and lengthening the time with an adequate response to treatment. This therapy allows the patients to obtain greater benefits from treatment and to prolong the time without symptoms of the disease (symptoms-free).