Category Archives: Psoriasis

(HealthDay News) -- Psoriasis is more than just a troublesome skin condition for millions of Americans -- it also causes up to $135 billion a year in direct and indirect costs, a new study shows.

According to data included in the study, about 3.2 percent of the U.S. population has the chronic inflammatory skin condition.

"Psoriasis patients may endure skin and joint disease, as well as associated conditions such as heart disease and depression," said Dr. Amit Garg, a dermatologist at North Shore-LIJ Health System in Manhasset, N.Y.

"These patients may bear significant long-term costs related to the medical condition itself, loss of work productivity, as well as to intangibles such as restriction in activities and poor self-image, for example," he added.

In the new study, a team led by Dr. Elizabeth Brezinski of the University of California, Davis reviewed 22 studies to estimate the total annual cost of psoriasis to Americans.

They calculated health care and other costs associated with the skin condition at between $112 billion and $135 billion in 2013.

Direct costs of psoriasis ranged from $57 billion to more than $63 billion, and indirect costs -- such as missed work days -- ranged from about $24 billion to $35 billion, the study found.

Other health problems related to psoriasis cost more than $36 billion, and treating the physical and mental health effects of psoriasis cost up to $11,498 per patient, the research team calculated.

"The direct health care costs are significantly greater for patients with psoriasis than for the general population and are also higher for patients with increasing psoriasis disease severity," the researchers concluded.

Dr. Gary Goldenberg, assistant professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, said the findings were "not surprising."

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Psoriasis costs Americans up to $135 billion annually

A patch of psoriasis on an elbow. iStockphoto hide caption

A patch of psoriasis on an elbow.

Skin disorders rarely make it on the list of big-time diseases, so when we saw a study saying that psoriasis costs the nation $52 to $63 billion a year, it was hard not to think, "Really?"

And that's just for the direct costs of health care for people with psoriasis, according to the study, published Wednesday in JAMA Dermatology.

Indirect costs such as lost work hours and unemployment make up another $24 to $35 billion, the study found. Then there are the costs of associated health problems like heart disease and depression, at $35 billion. That's a lot of money for something that could easily be dismissed as a rash by those of us who aren't up to speed on psoriasis. But as those numbers suggest, we'd be wrong.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that affects about 3 percent of the population; its most obvious manifestation is thick red or scaly skin patches, caused by skin cells dividing too fast. About 10 to 20 percent of people also get an inflammatory type of arthritis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It's a chronic disease, and there's no medication that cures it. Treatments range from over-the-counter skin moisturizers to try to tame the cracking and scaling to ultraviolet light therapy, traditional systemic drugs like methotrexate, and newer biologic drugs that target parts of the immune system.

Bottom line: There are millions of people dealing with a chronic illness that can be disfiguring and disabling. To find out it's like to deal with psoriasis, we called Todd Bello, a 51-year-old from Stony Brook, N.Y. When he was diagnosed with psoriasis at age 28, he started going to the doctor several times a week and trying different treatments.

Bello worked as a letter carrier for the Postal Service, coached his children's soccer games and volunteered as a firefighter and EMT. The psoriasis made his skin crack and bleed when he got in and out of the postal truck. His feet swelled to the point that he couldn't wear shoes. Eventually had to retire on disability. "It's very frustrating for a person who needs to make a living," Bello told Shots. "I'm very fortunate and grateful that my wife has a great job and we're able to pay for the medication I need."

Bello volunteered for several clinical trials for experimental psoriasis drugs. One failed to help. Another, Raptiva, worked wonderfully, Bello says, but was taken off the market because it increased the risk of deadly brain infections. "I wasn't very happy at that point," he says.

He tried Enbrel, another biologic; didn't work. But a third, Stelara, banished symptoms for five years. "Unfortunately, it was temporary," Bello says.

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How The Skin Disease Psoriasis Costs Us Billions

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The annual U.S. cost of psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin condition, was estimated to be between $112 billion and $135 billion in 2013, according to a review article published online by JAMA Dermatology.

Psoriasis affects about 3.2 percent of the U.S. population and understanding the economic burden of the disease is important for research, advocacy and educational efforts.

Elizabeth A. Brezinski, M.D., of the University of California, Davis, Sacramento, and coauthors reviewed 22 studies to estimate the direct, indirect, intangible and comorbidity costs of adult psoriasis. The results were adjusted to 2013 dollars.

Their review found direct psoriasis costs ranged from $51.7 billion to $63.2 billion, while indirect costs (due to absenteeism or going to work while sick) ranged from $23.9 billion to $35.4 billion. Medical comorbidities were estimated to contribute another $36.4 billion. And intangible costs (to eliminate the negative effects of psoriasis in physical and mental health) amounted to a one-time cost of up to $11,498 per patient with psoriasis, according to the review results.

"The direct health care costs are significantly greater for patients with psoriasis than for the general population and are also higher for patients with increasing psoriasis disease severity. Defining the economic burden of psoriasis from a societal perspective is the foundation for innovating and providing access to cost-effective therapies that will result in improved patient outcomes," the authors note.

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The above story is based on materials provided by The JAMA Network Journals. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

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Review article estimates annual US cost of psoriasis in 2013

AURORA, Colo. (Jan. 7. 2015) - The annual U.S. cost of psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin condition, was estimated to be between $112 billion and $135 billion in 2013, according to a review article published online by JAMA Dermatology.

Psoriasis affects about 3.2 percent of the U.S. population and understanding the economic burden of the disease is important for research, advocacy and educational efforts.

April Armstrong, MD, MPH, associate professor and vice chair of clinical research in the Department of Dermatology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, is the senior and corresponding author of the article. Armstrong, along with co-authors, reviewed 22 studies to estimate the direct, indirect, intangible and comorbidity costs of adult psoriasis. The results were adjusted to 2013 dollars.

Their review found direct psoriasis costs ranged from $51.7 billion to $63.2 billion, while indirect costs (due to absenteeism or going to work while sick) ranged from $23.9 billion to $35.4 billion. Medical comorbidities were estimated to contribute another $36.4 billion. And intangible costs (to eliminate the negative effects of psoriasis in physical and mental health) amounted to a one-time cost of up to $11,498 per patient with psoriasis, according to the review results.

"The direct health care costs are significantly greater for patients with psoriasis than for the general population and are also higher for patients with increasing psoriasis disease severity. ... Defining the economic burden of psoriasis from a societal perspective is the foundation for innovating and providing access to cost-effective therapies that will result in improved patient outcomes," the authors note.

The article is published online today.

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About the University of Colorado School of Medicine

Faculty at the University of Colorado School of Medicine work to advance science and improve care. These faculty members include physicians, educators and scientists at University of Colorado Health, Children's Hospital Colorado, Denver Health, National Jewish Health, and the Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The school is located on the Anschutz Medical Campus, one of four campuses in the University of Colorado system. To learn more about the medical school's care, education, research and community engagement, visit its web site.

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CU School of Medicine's April Armstrong estimates cost of psoriasis in the US

PBR Staff Writer Published 06 January 2015

LEO Pharma has submitted a new drug application (NDA) to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking approval for calcipotriene and betamethasone dipropionate aerosol foam to treat patients with plaque psoriasis, the most common clinical form of psoriasis.

The aerosol foam formulation of the fixed combination of calcipotriene and betamethasone dipropionate 0.005%/0.064%, has been developed to improve treatment for patients with plaque psoriasis.

The NDA is based on studies of patients with plaque psoriasis, which include the Phase IIIa PSO-FAST trial that evaluated efficacy and safety at four weeks and the Phase II MUSE safety trial.

LEO Pharma president and CEO Barbara Osborne said: "Psoriasis is a chronic, debilitating disease. Patients with inadequately managed plaque psoriasis can experience substantial burden of illness, with similar reductions in quality of life to those experienced by patients with diabetes or cancer.

"With the regulatory submission announced today, we are taking a step further towards providing additional topical treatment options for people living with psoriasis."

The company said that regulatory filings in Europe and other countries are planned during the course of 2015 and 2016.

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LEO Pharma submits NDA to US FDA for aerosol foam to treat plaque psoriasis

Psoriasis Remedies - The Most Effective Psoriasis Treatment, Psoriasis cure
Psoriasis Remedies - The Most Effective Psoriasis Treatment, Psoriasis cure The five main types of psoriasis are plaque, guttate, inverse, pustular, and erythrodermic. Plaque psoriasis, the...

By: Bala Guru

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Psoriasis Remedies - The Most Effective Psoriasis Treatment, Psoriasis cure - Video

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) January 05, 2015

Healthline.com, a leading source of timely health information, news and resources, today announced it is partnering with the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF), the worlds largest nonprofit serving millions of Americans with psoriatic disease, to launch a new social media initiative aimed at supporting and empowering those who are living with psoriasis. Psoriasis is the most prevalent autoimmune disease in the U.S., impacting as many as 7.5 million Americans.

Psoriatic disease has a profound impact on peoples emotional and physical well-being, and people with psoriasis often describe feeling lonely, isolated and embarrassed, said Noe Baker, public relations manager at the National Psoriasis Foundation. The more that people with psoriatic disease are able to connect with others through online and share experiences, the less isolating the disease can be. Social media helps many people with psoriatic disease realize that others know just what theyre going through.

People can participate in two ways:

It's imperative for psoriasis sufferers to know they are not alone, said Alisha Bridges, who has been dealing with psoriasis for 20 years. The biggest help in my coming out with this disease was meeting others who were conquering psoriasis and refusing to be ashamed. The You've Got This campaign is a great way to connect others through the use of social media.

We know from creating other support communities for HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis and bipolar disorder that people living with chronic illness really value hearing from those who are also affected by it. Insights from fellow community members can be extremely impactful, especially for those who are recently diagnosed and coming to terms with their new reality, said Tracy Rosecrans, VP of marketing for Healthline.com. Now, through Healthlines partnership with the NPF, the psoriasis community has its own place to share personal journeys and spread the message to others that they are not aloneand theyve got this.

About the National Psoriasis Foundation National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) is the world's largest organization serving people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Our priority is to provide the information and services for people to take control of their condition, while increasing research to find a cure. In addition to serving more than 2.1 million people annually through our patient and professional education and advocacy initiatives, NPF has funded more than $11 million in psoriatic disease research. Visit us online at http://www.psoriasis.org or call 800.723.9166. Follow NPF on Facebook and Twitter.

About Healthline Healthline provides intelligent health information and technology solutions that help healthcare organizations and everyday people make more informed healthcare decisions, improve outcomes and reduce costs. Powered by the worlds largest medical taxonomy platform, Healthlines Health Data Solutions, Health Engagement Solutions and Health Marketing Solutions leverage advanced concept-mapping technology to deliver accurate, actionable insights. Additionally, the companys consumer website, Healthline.com, delivers relevant, timely health information, news and resources to help consumers manage their health. Healthline is currently used by more than 25 million consumers per month and some of healthcares largest brands, including AARP, Aetna, UnitedHealth Group, Microsoft, IBM, GE and Elsevier. For more information, please visit corp.healthline.com and http://www.healthline.com, or follow @HealthlineCorp and @Healthline on Twitter.

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Healthline and National Psoriasis Foundation Partner for Social Media Initiative Aimed to Empower and Support ...

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT Pat Schuerman, 50, was diagnosed with skin condition psoriasis at age 24 Patches of thick, red welts and rough, silvery scales that look like bark or plaster of Paris are forming all over her body, leaving her feeling 'hideous' Has been thrown out of shops as owners worry her condition is contagious Developed psoriatic arthritis in her joints which makes walking difficult Now no longer leaves the house due to insecurities over her looks

By Madlen Davies for MailOnline

Published: 09:56 EST, 5 January 2015 | Updated: 17:37 EST, 5 January 2015

Pat Schuerman, 50, says she no longer leaves the house because insecurities over her psoriasis have left her feeling 'hideous' and like a 'leper'

A woman has described how unsightly patches of silvery 'bark' are forming all over her body as a result of the skin condition psoriasis.

Pat Schuerman, 50, is covered in thick, red welts and rough, silvery scales, which she described as 'looking like bark' or 'plaster of Paris'.

She is constantly itching and feels 'hideous', but despite trying a range of treatments to help manage her condition, nothing has worked.

She now no longer leaves the house due to her insecurities, and has also developed arthritis in her joints - a problem related to her skin condition - making walking painful.

Her insecurities grew after she was thrown out a library and swimming pool due to psoriasis, which also affects celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, LeAnne Rimes and The Only Way Is Essex's Jessica Wright.

'I was asked to leave our local library because people complained I was getting flakes on the keyboard,' Miss Schuerman from Arizona, U.S., said.

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US woman with psoriasis has patches of silver 'bark' forming over her body

Psoriasis C24 7
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