Prescription Pattern Variability of Biologic Therapies in Treating Psoriasis

Background:Medical conditions with high variability in clinical costs and outcomes, such as psoriasis, represent a critical area for health-care value improvement. Thus, the prescription pattern variability of psoriasis biologics merits further study.Objective:The purpose of our study was to determine whether there is variation in psoriasis biologic prescribing patterns.Methods:This study analyzed data from the Truven MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters database. Patients with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision psoriasis diagnoses from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2013, and continuously enrolled for at least 12 months were included. Patient sex, geographic location by census region, and new pharmacy claims for etanercept, adalimumab, and ustekinumab were included. Descriptive and multivariable analyses using logistic regression were performed.Results:Twenty nine thousand seven hundred thirty patients with psoriasis had 36 366 new prescription claims. Statistically signifi...