RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Psoriasis is an immune-mediated, chronic, inflammatory disease, which has a substantial humanistic and economic burden. This study aimed to assess the impact of this disease on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), work productivity, and direct and indirect costs from a societal perspective among Brazilian patients. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, observational, multicenter study, enrolling patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis according to physician evaluation. Data collection was performed from December 2015 to November 2016 through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire and five standardized patient-reported outcomes instruments. Direct costs were estimated by multiplying the amount of resources used (12-month recall period) by the corresponding unit cost. Indirect costs were grouped in two time horizons: annual costs (income reduction and absenteeism) and lifetime costs (demission and early retirement). RESULTS: A total of 188 patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis were included, with mean age of 48.0 (SD 13.1). "Anxiety and depression" and "pain and discomfort" were the most impaired dimensions, according to the EuroQol Five-Dimension-Three-Level (EQ-5D-3L). The highest effect was found for "symptoms and feelings" [mean (SD) 2.4 (1.7)] Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) subscale. Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) presence and biologic-naïve status were associated with worse HRQoL. Presenteeism was more frequent than absenteeism, according to the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire-General Health (WPAI-GH) [17.4% vs. 6.3%], while physical demands and time management were the most affected Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ) subscales [means (SD) 23.5 (28.5) and 17.7 (24.9), respectively]. The estimated annual cost per patient was USD 4034. Direct medical costs accounted for 87.7% of this estimate, direct non-medical costs for 2.4%, and indirect costs for 9.9%. CONCLUSIONS: Results evidenced that moderate to severe plaque psoriasis imposes substantial costs to society. Our data showed that this disease negatively affects both work productivity and HRQoL of Brazilian patients. Subgroups with PsA and biologic-naïve patients presented lower HRQoL, showing the impact of this comorbidity and the relevance of biologics in psoriasis treatment. FUNDING: Novartis Biociências S.A.
Assuntos
Corticosteroides/economia , Corticosteroides/uso terapêutico , Artrite Psoriásica/tratamento farmacológico , Artrite Psoriásica/economia , Artrite Psoriásica/epidemiologia , Efeitos Psicossociais da Doença , Qualidade de Vida/psicologia , Adulto , Brasil/epidemiologia , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Cutis laxa is characterized by the total loss of skin elasticity, which is also called generalized elastosis that leads to the appearance of early aging. OBJECTIVE: The authors report a patient with cutis laxa in which botulinum toxin was used for the improvement of facial aesthetics. This is a case report with a literature review. Botulinum toxin was injected into the classical sites usually used for the treatment of dynamic wrinkles. RESULTS: The patient showed improvement of the aging appearance. CONCLUSION: The use of botulinum toxin may represent an additional, less invasive resource to improve facial defects in these patients.