gms | German Medical Science

Background: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic, inflammatory, immune-mediated disease with a range of skin and musculoskeletal symptoms of different severity [1]. Since the latest update of the EULAR treatment guidelines for PsA [2], new therapies, including interleukin 17 inhibitors, a T-cell co-stimulatory inhibitor and targeted synthetic DMARDs, have been approved in the EU. With several agents available, there is currently a knowledge gap in prescription behaviour for PsA in Germany. To our knowledge, this is the first registry of patients with PsA in Germany, which enabled us to collect and analyse treatment patterns and patient demographic and clinical characteristics with respect to the used DMARD therapy.

Methods: This is a multicentre epidemiological study in a random sample of rheumatologists (private practice and hospital settings) treating PsA. Adult patients diagnosed with active PsA, meeting Classification Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis and Psoriasis [3], treated with DMARDs for ≥12 months and not participating in clinical trials are eligible. A minimum sample size of 300 patients and 50 rheumatology sites (estimated number based on 6-month accrual period) are required for the analysis to achieve precision of 3.4–5.7% with 95% CI.

Primary objective: to determine the proportion of patients treated with biologic (b)DMARDs in Germany.

Secondary objectives: to describe current treatment strategy; estimate proportion of patients with inadequate response to their current medication and of patients experiencing treatment change within 12 months (with description of reason); and describe patient socio-demographic and clinical characteristics.

Results: This is the first disclosure to report treatment patterns and socio-demographic and clinical characteristics in patients with active PsA treated with DMARDs in Germany. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of all analysed patients (N=316) are presented (Table 1 [Tab. 1]). Primary and secondary endpoint results are anticipated and will be reported in due course.

Conclusion: Baseline socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with active PsA treated with DMARDs in Germany are presented for the first time in this observational study of therapeutic strategy in PsA. Further data to illustrate therapeutic strategy in PsA in Germany are awaited. These real-world data will provide further understanding and optimization of DMARD use and thus will support better clinical decision-making processes.