Patient Perspectives on Psoriatic Disease Burden: Results from the Global Psoriasis and Beyond Survey

Plaque psoriasis is a chronic, systemic immune-mediated disease, characterized by erythematous scaly patches or plaques of the skin with extracutaneous areas involved, such as the nails, scalp, palms, soles, and joints; psoriasis is associated with systemic comorbidities including cardiovascular disease (CVD) and metabolic syndrome [1‒3]. Up to one-third of patients with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis (PsA), the most commonly recognized comorbidity of psoriasis [4]. Psoriatic disease (PsD) is the overarching term used to describe the many manifestations of psoriasis, PsA, and the associated comorbidities [5]. PsD has a substantial influence on patients’ quality of life (QoL) and can result in social and occupational stigma and discrimination, disability, and functional decline [6‒10].

Owing to the chronic nature of PsD, long-term treatment is often necessary. Evidence-based international treatment guidelines for PsD have been published and the main treatment goals are to achieve clinical remission and inhibit disease progression [11‒19]. Further, treatment guidelines recognize PsD as a multisystem inflammatory disorder and emphasize a holistic approach to disease management focusing on comorbidities including mental health, psychosocial wellness, and QoL [15]. However, despite recent advances in the management of psoriasis and PsD (e.g., with biological agents), treatment gaps remain, which include undertreatment, timely access to specialists, access to biological therapies, and early detection of comorbid diseases [20]. Further, diagnostic delays are commonly reported in PsD, particularly in the diagnosis of joint symptoms/PsA in patients with confirmed psoriasis [4, 21].

Recent guidelines for the management of psoriasis have emphasized the importance of a continuous dialogue between healthcare professionals (HCPs) and patients and reported that directly involving patients in their own care via shared decision-making is important in facilitating comprehensive care, empowering the patient, and improving QoL [15]. Psoriasis and Beyond: The Global Psoriasis Disease Survey is a joint research initiative between the IFPA and Novartis, in collaboration with 16 patient advocacy groups (PAGs), a steering committee of patient advocates, and dermatology and rheumatology experts. This study aimed to assess patients’ understanding of the systemic nature of psoriasis and PsA, the related manifestations and comorbidities, and the impact of psoriasis and PsA on QoL. Here, we report the final results of the Psoriasis and Beyond study, which summarizes the perspectives of almost 5,000 patients with PsD across 20 countries.

Psoriasis and Beyond was a cross-sectional, quantitative, online survey of patients with plaque psoriasis with or without concomitant PsA. The study included participants from 20 countries across Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas (see online suppl. Table S1; for all online suppl. material, see https://doi.org/10.1159/000528945). Data were collected between November 12, 2020 and June 13, 2021.

The online questionnaire was developed by the Institut de Publique Sondage d’Opinion Secteur (Ipsos SA) together with Novartis, IFPA, and an external committee of patient advocates and medical experts in the fields of psoriasis and PsA. Patients were recruited through online panels (either self-registered to the panel or recruited by the agency maintaining the panel) by Ipsos SA and PAGs. See online supplementary Methods for further information on the questionnaire employed.

Screening questions were used to determine the eligibility for each study respondent. To participate, patients (aged ≥18 years) had to have a self-reported, physician-given diagnosis of psoriasis or psoriasis with PsA before or at the time of data collection. Additionally, all patients had to have a self-assessed body surface area (BSA) of >5 to <10 (moderate to severe) affecting sensitive and/or prominent body parts (face, palms, hands, fingers, genitals, soles of feet or nails) or a BSA of ≥10 (severe), when a patient’s psoriasis was at its worst. Exclusion criteria are noted in the online supplementary Materials. Following assessment of participant eligibility via a 5-min online screener, a 25-min Internet-based survey was conducted without any follow-up.

The primary objectives of this study were to assess patients’ understanding of psoriasis and PsA as part of a systemic disease, and the humanistic and physical burden of living with these conditions.

Secondary objectives were to (1) assess patients’ perceptions and attitudes related to their relationship with their HCP, (2) understand the patient journey through the healthcare system, and (3) assess barriers to self-management and diagnosis, patient perceptions of biological treatments, treatment expectations, and satisfaction with care.

Data on self-reported diagnosis of psoriasis/PsA and comorbidities, self-reported assessment of BSA (using a visual aid tool; see online suppl. Materials), and severity of psoriasis/PsA were also collected. Psoriasis severity was categorized using BSA scores (mild, BSA <5; moderate, BSA ≥5 to <10; severe, BSA ≥10). See online supplementary Methods for primary and secondary endpoints, exclusion criteria, and data analyses.

Informed digital consent was obtained from patients before study participation. This study was reviewed and approved by the local Ethics Committees and Institutional Review Boards, according to the local laws and regulations.

In total, 4,978 respondents were included in this study (81.0% [n = 4,034] recruited by Ipsos SA; 19.0% [n = 944] recruited by PAGs). Sample collection by region and country is described in online supplementary Table 1. Overall, 46.4% (n = 2,311), 28.0% (n = 1,394), and 25.6% (n = 1,273) of patients included were from Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas, respectively. Overall, 51.0% of patients were female (mean age, 44.0 years) and 49.0% were male (mean age, 42.5 years). Gender and age were relatively similar across regions (Europe, 47% female and mean age 45.0 years; Asia-Pacific, 57% female and mean age 40.0 years; Americas, 51% female and mean age 44.0 years).

Overall (n = 4,978), 69% of all patients had heard that their disease was part of a systemic disease (shown in Fig. 1a), 60% had previously heard of the term “psoriatic disease” (shown in Fig. 1b), and of those with psoriasis only, 29% were aware that PsA was related to their psoriasis (shown in Fig. 1c). Further, less than one-third of the patients were aware of the relationship between psoriasis/PsA and common comorbidities including depression, anxiety, CVD, and diabetes (shown in Fig. 1d). On average, all patients (n = 4,978) were aware of 2.5 manifestations and 2.8 comorbidities related to their psoriasis or PsA. Sources of awareness regarding manifestations and comorbidities (n = 4,616) are shown in online supplementary Figure 1a. Awareness of patient with psoriasis by region and country is further described in online supplementary Table 2. In general, patient awareness was highest in Asia-Pacific countries, particularly India, South Korea, and Taiwan.

Overall (n = 4,978), 82% of patients knew their BSA score, 4% did not remember, and 14% answered that their HCP had never mentioned BSA. Of those patients who knew their BSA score, 63% reported a moderate (BSA: ≥5 to <10) and 37% reported a severe psoriasis (BSA: ≥10) when their psoriasis was at its worst. At the time of surveying, 60% of patients reported mild psoriasis (BSA <5), 24% reported moderate psoriasis, while 16% had severe psoriasis. In total (n = 4,978), patients had an average of 5.4 body areas currently affected by their psoriasis; the most common areas affected were the legs (57%), scalp (56%), elbows (54%), arms (47%), knees (46%), and back (39%). Sensitive areas by current disease severity are presented in Figure 2a. On average, patients had 2.0 affected sensitive areas, despite 60% currently having mild psoriasis; this percentage was higher in patients with a more severe psoriasis (shown in Fig. 2b).

Patients had already received a mean diagnosis of 2.5 comorbidities (mild, 2.4 comorbidities; moderate, comorbidities, 2.5 comorbidities; severe, 3.0 comorbidities), including anxiety (27%), obesity/overweight (26%), depression (25%), chronic gastrointestinal diseases (22%), and high cholesterol (22%) or CVD, including hypertension (20%). Presence of comorbidities based on the current psoriasis severity is shown in online supplementary Figure 1b.

Overall, 30% (1,488/4,978) of all patients reported also having been diagnosed with PsA (hereafter referred to as psoriasis-PsA). Of these patients, 14%, 47%, and 25% reported low, moderate, and highly active PsA, respectively, while 8% reported that their HCP had never told them about their PsA activity (shown in Fig. 2c). Figure 2d illustrates current psoriasis severity by the presence of PsA manifestations, demonstrating that even in patients with mild cutaneous disease, the presence of PsA symptoms is common.

Using the Psoriasis Epidemiology Screening Tool (PEST), which was developed to assist in identifying PsA at an early stage [22], patients who had not previously been diagnosed with PsA were screened for PsA signs and symptoms. Among those patients with psoriasis only (n = 3,490), 38% screened positive, indicative of a potential PsA presence. Positive PEST screening was higher in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis (mild, 36%; moderate, 43%; severe, 40%). Of the patients with only psoriasis, who were receiving biologics, 55% screened positive using PEST, suggestive of a potential presence and need for evaluation of PsA. Of interest, the proportion of PEST-positive patients with psoriasis only was highest in the Americas (49%) compared to Europe (34%) or the Asia-Pacific region (39%) (see online suppl. Table 2).

Previously reported Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) ranges were used to evaluate the impact of psoriasis on QoL on the overall population (DLQI 0–1, no impact of the disease on QoL; 2–5, small impact; 6–10, moderate impact; 11–20, very large impact; 21–30, extremely large impact) [23]. Nearly half (48%) of all patients (n = 4,978) reported that their disease had a very large to extremely large impact on their QoL: only 13% of patients reported no impact of the disease on QoL (shown in Fig. 3a). The effect of the disease on QoL was greater in patients with moderate and severe psoriasis (shown in Fig. 3b). Further, the impact on QoL was substantially greater in patients with only psoriasis who had a positive PEST screening (n = 1,340): 64% had a very large to extremely large effect of their disease on QoL, with only 5% reporting no effect at all. Of all patients reporting an extremely large effect on QoL, 66% also reported having clear skin. Further, 34% and 32% of patients with depression and anxiety also reported a very large to extremely large effect of their disease on QoL, respectively (shown in online suppl. Fig. 2).

When asked about the effect of psoriasis on work experiences, 28% of all patients (n = 4,978) reported that their skin problems prevented them from working or studying within the previous week. Of those who had attended work (n = 2,686), 38% and 11% answered that their skin problems impacted their work either “a little” or “a lot,” respectively. In line with this, 14% of all patients’ (n = 4,978) careers were influenced by the presence of their disease, 12% had difficulty finding a job, and 10% experienced discrimination at work due to their psoriasis and psoriasis-PsA. PEST-positive patients with psoriasis only (n = 1,340) were more impacted by their condition: 40% could not go to work due to their skin symptoms, and 48% and 16% of those who could attend work (60%) said that their skin problems impacted their work “a little” or “a lot,” respectively.

The impact of PsD on sexual life and relationships and their experiences of stigma and discrimination are shown in Fig. 4a, b, respectively. One-fifth of the patients reported that they avoided having sex because of their condition (20%), and that they could not stand the thought of someone touching or seeing their skin (19%) (shown in Fig. 4a). Further, 35% of patients had been asked if they were contagious and 32% had been stared at in public due to their disease (shown in Fig. 4b). Coping mechanisms used by all patients (n = 4,978) and psoriasis-PsA patients (n = 1,488) are illustrated in Fig. 4c, d. On average, patients with psoriasis used 3.2 coping mechanisms to deal with their psoriasis (average of 3.7 in patients with psoriasis-PsA).

Patient knowledge, skill, and confidence for self-management were assessed using the Patient Activation Measure^® 13 (PAM-13^®) [24]. Overall (n = 4,978), 9% of patients were disengaged and overwhelmed (level 1), 16% were becoming aware but still struggling (level 2), 52% were taking action (level 3), and 19% were maintaining behaviors and pushing further (level 4).

Of all patients (n = 4,978), the mean ages of first symptom onset and confirmed psoriasis diagnosis were 24.2 and 26.8 years, respectively. This relates to a delay in psoriasis diagnosis of 2.6 years. Further, in patients with psoriasis-PsA (n = 1,488), the mean ages of first symptom onset and confirmed PsA diagnosis were 30.8 and 32.8 years, respectively. This demonstrates a further delay in PsA diagnosis of 2.0 years. In all patients (n = 4,978), the most common current treatment for psoriasis was topical therapies (72%), followed by biologics (42%) (shown in Fig. 5a); on average, patients had received 2.2 biological treatments for their psoriasis. In patients with psoriasis-PsA (n = 1,488), the most common current treatments were biologics (55%), followed by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (46%) and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs; 44%; shown in Fig. 5b); on average, patients had received 2.8 biological treatments for their PsA. Only 36% and 46% of patients with psoriasis and psoriasis-PsA reported that their condition improved with their current treatment, while 56% and 45% reported indifference, respectively (shown in Fig. 5c, d). The effect of current psoriasis and PsA treatments by treatment type is illustrated in Fig. 5c, d. Overall, 52% of patients achieved clear skin with their current treatment regimen (shown in Fig. 5e), while 67% of patients believed that achieving clear skin was possible. The highest proportion of clear skin was reported in patients with psoriasis currently receiving biologics (67%; shown in Fig. 5e), followed by other systemic medications (57%) and phototherapy (52%), and in patients with psoriasis-PsA currently receiving immunosuppressants (77%; shown in Fig. 5f) or biologics (72%).

Only 58% of all treated patients (n = 4,757) and 64% of treated patients with psoriasis-PsA (n = 1,409) were satisfied with their current treatment (shown in Fig. 6a). Key reasons for dissatisfaction were that the treatment provided only partial or no relief of symptoms and did not improve the overall QoL (shown in Fig. 6b). Treatment satisfaction was highest in those currently receiving biologics or other systemic medications (73% and 67%, respectively; shown in Fig. 6c), for patients with psoriasis, while similar levels of satisfaction were recorded in patients with psoriasis-PsA receiving immunosuppressants (80%), biologics (79%), and DMARDs (75%) (shown in Fig. 6d). Overall (n = 4,978), 29% of patients had previously refused a biologic; the most frequent reasons for refusal were the possible side effects (46%), cost to the patient (33%), possible long-term effects (30%), and frequency of treatment (30%).

Regarding treatment goals, 40% of patients reported that their HCP decided on the goals, 41% decided on treatment goals along with their HCP, and 19% reported having no discussion with the HCP on treatment goals. Treatment goals were aligned between patients with psoriasis and psoriasis-PsA (shown in Fig. 7a). Among all patients who had a discussion about treatment goals with their HCP (n = 4,052), the most frequently reported aligned goals are shown in Figure 7b. Further, personal treatment goals (all patients) are shown in Figure 7c. Overall (n = 4,978), 75% of patients always followed the advice of their HCP, 65% felt that they could get in touch with their HCP if needed, and 65% felt listened to by their HCP (shown in online suppl. Fig. 3).

In total, 54% of patients experienced an impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on their treatment. Among those patients (n = 2,273), the most frequently reported impacts were the need for telephone appointments (36%) or video call/online appointments (33%) instead of in-person appointments, and issues with getting prescriptions (29%).

Psoriasis and Beyond was a global study primarily designed to assess patients’ understanding of the systemic nature of their PsD and the humanistic and physical burden of living with these conditions. Further, this study addresses ongoing problems associated with psoriasis despite therapeutic intervention. This study, conducted in 20 countries across four continents and including almost 5,000 patients, highlighted the need for a greater understanding of the systemic nature of PsD and its associated manifestations and comorbidities. Further, it demonstrated the significant physical burden of PsD (as described by patients), the profound impact on QoL affecting patients’ work experiences and personal relationships, and the related shame and stigma.

This study found that the majority of patients could not recognize the most common manifestations and/or comorbidities such as PsA, CVD, and axial symptoms/disease. Although most patients had heard that psoriasis and PsA are part of a systemic disease, their understanding of the specific manifestations and comorbidities of PsA was lacking, and as such, patients may require additional education. This is particularly important given the prevalence of these comorbidities within this patient population, with 30% and 18% already affected by PsA and CVD, respectively.

Psoriasis, especially nail psoriasis and extensive body surface involvement, is strongly associated with the development of PsA [25, 26]. Despite the observation that up to one-third of patients with psoriasis will develop PsA in their lifetime, PsA is underdiagnosed in patients with psoriasis, and a diagnostic delay of PsA of up to 5 years has been reported [4]. Early diagnosis of PsA is critical in minimizing nonreversible erosive joint damage [27]. Overall, 30% of the psoriasis population in this study had concomitant PsA; patients with PsA reported an average of a 2-year delay in their PsA diagnosis. Further, using PEST, 38% of patients with psoriasis only screened positive, indicating the presence of PsA. These results highlight the need for active screening for PsA by the psoriasis-treating HCP, since they represent the first line of care for PsD diagnosis and intervention. Guidelines for the management of PsD also indicate a role for the patient in the identification of early signs of PsA; a proactive approach to patient education and routine screening by the psoriasis-treating HCP facilitates the earliest possible detection of PsA among patients with psoriasis [15].

The Psoriasis and Beyond study validates the need for evaluation of physical impact through different measures because although most patients had a BSA <5, a well-established clinical definition of mild disease, their description of current symptoms and body parts affected (especially sensitive areas), and DLQI scores suggest that the majority of patients were actually affected by more severe or poorly controlled psoriasis. This finding is supported by the results of the Multinational Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (MAPP) study, the first large-scale population-based survey focusing on the impact of PsD and patients’ perceptions of and satisfaction with medical care [28]. The MAPP study uncovered many patient-reported unmet needs, including undertreatment of psoriasis, improved severity assessments, patient awareness and treatment options, and key areas that are also highlighted in the current study. The MAPP study identified differences between self-perceived severities and validated clinical tools (e.g., 22% of patients with a BSA ≤3% in the MAPP study rated their disease as “severe”).

Despite 60% of patients in the present study currently experiencing mild psoriasis, only 13% reported no impact on QoL. Further, patients were commonly confronted with stigma and discrimination due to their skin condition. These findings are supported by the six key themes identified by Sumpton et al. [29] in a recent systematic review describing the range and depth of patient perspectives and experiences in patients with psoriasis and PsA: (1) suffering uncontrollable and ongoing upheaval, (2) weighed down by mental load, (3) harboring shame and judgment, (4) demoralized by inadequacies and burden of therapy, (5) gaining control, and (6) making confident treatment decisions. The themes identified by Sumpton et al. [29] (particularly gaining control and making confident treatment decisions) highlight the importance of the patients’ role in the management of their own disease and the need for shared decision-making and a continuous dialogue between patients and HCPs. Results from the PAM-13 screening demonstrated that only one-fifth of patients were at level 4 (representing the highest activation level at which patients are proactive with their health). However, half of the patients were level 3, indicating that they have begun taking action and viewed themselves as part of their own healthcare team. However, despite half of the patients taking action and despite the fact that there are high levels of trust in the psoriasis-treating HCP (the majority of patients followed their HCP’s advice and felt that they could reach out to their HCP if needed), only 41% of patients were involved in goal setting with their HCP, and 19% reported never discussing treatment goals with their HCP at all. This is relevant since treatment goals may differ between HCPs and patients; consensus-driven treatment goals for psoriasis typically consider clear skin as the main treatment goal [30]; however, our study showed that patients’ personal goals were focused on the holistic impact of psoriasis, including the physical impact, the impact on the patient’s everyday life, and their QoL. Thus, it is crucial that HCPs understand and acknowledge patient goals’ before initiating treatment.

The Observing Patient Involvement in Decision Making (OPTION) instrument previously determined that whatever the clinical context, only a few HCPs attempt to facilitate patient involvement and even fewer adjust care to patient preference [31]. Dermatologists reported that although they believed that patients’ accessibility to dermatologists and information on treatment risks and benefits were the most important factors for decision-making, they also believed that the time that they had with patients and educational materials available was inadequate [32]. This was supported by an online survey of dermatologists and patients with psoriasis in which the key perceived barriers for shared decision-making were lack of continuity of care by the same HCP and lack of time [33]. A patient decision aid (PDA) may be a particularly valuable tool to facilitate shared decision-making. PDAs have been developed and piloted in patients with psoriasis [34‒36] and those eligible for DMARDs [37]. These PDAs have demonstrated promise; were successful in increasing patient knowledge and reducing decisional conflict between patients and HCPs; and led to treatment decisions that were more in line with patient preferences [34‒37]. Further, PDAs may overcome the perceived barriers to shared decision-making, such as lack of time, since they may be taken home or provided in advance of consultations.

Clear skin was achieved by only 52% of patients in this study; this is in line with the Clear About Psoriasis [38] (2015/2016) study in which only 43% of patients achieved clear skin; of interest, 67% of patients believed that clear/almost clear skin was possible, compared to 44% in Clear About Psoriasis [38]. This suggests greater treatment expectations in this patient population. The highest levels of patient reported clear skin occurred in patients with psoriasis receiving biological therapy, reflecting a high prevalence of treatment satisfaction in patients with psoriasis receiving biologics. This is in line with a systematic review which demonstrated that although patient satisfaction with currently available therapies was modest, patients treated with biologics reported the highest levels of treatment satisfaction compared to those treated with topicals, phototherapy, or other oral therapies [39].

Limitations of this study include the use of self-reported data; diagnosis and any treatment-related aspects of the patient population were self-reported by the respondents. Survey answers were based on patients’ perceptions and attitudes and therefore recall bias may be possible. Self-reported screening could reflect participant misconceptions of the screening processes, rather than the actual practice. Selection bias may be another limitation, as participants with eventful or burdensome experiences may have been more likely to participate. Further, patients with psoriasis or PsA who do not have access to the Internet may be underrepresented in this study. In addition, although the PEST tool has been widely validated, the authors are not aware of studies verifying similar test characteristics when applied in a web-based format. Strengths of this study include the wide reach of the survey, large dataset, global population, and use of the visual aid tool provided in the survey for accurate self-assessment of disease severity.

The results of this study demonstrate that many patients do not yet fully understand that psoriasis and PsA are part of a systemic disease and therefore require further education. Further education should be facilitated not only via HCPs but also through PAGs and online platforms. Additionally, the impact and severity of the disease should always be assessed from different viewpoints, including the physical impact, the impact on the patient’s everyday life, and QoL, since the physical impact alone is not a sufficient indicator of the burden of disease. Further, these assessments should also include the patient’s perspective of impact, and not only what the HCP considers to be impactful. Given the complexity and impact of PsD, early diagnosis and increasing patient participation in their care (e.g., using PDAs) may facilitate shared decision-making between patients and HCPs, which, along with providing a personalized and holistic treatment strategy, may result in better overall patient outcomes. Furthermore, these data indicate that policies should be implemented to protect against stigma and discrimination, which are commonly experienced by patients with psoriasis.

Psoriasis and Beyond describes the global understanding and PsD burden from patient’s perspectives.

The authors thank Trudy Mcgarry, PhD (Novartis, Dublin, Ireland) and Shilpa Kakkar, PhD (Novartis Healthcare, Hyderabad, India) for providing medical writing support which was funded by Novartis Pharma AG in accordance with the Good Publication Practice (GPP3) guidelines (http://www.ismpp.org/gpp3).

The authors would also like to thank the patient advocacy groups that participated in this study: APIAFCO (Associazione Psoriasici Italiani Amici della Fondazione Corazza), Canadian Association of Psoriasis Patients, France Psoriasis, GIPSO (Groupe d’Aide à l’Information et à la Recherche sur le Psoriasis), Interregional Charitable Public Organization “Skin and Allergic Diseases,” Irish Skin Foundation, Japan Psoriasis Association, National Psoriasis Foundation, Psoriasis Association Korea, Psoriasis Association of Slovenia, Psoriasis Australia, Psoriasis-Contact, Psoriasis Liga Vlaanderen, Psoriasis – og Eksemforbundet, Psoriasisforeningen, and Psoriasis Association Taiwan.

This study was reviewed by the Local Ethics Committees (EC) of the 20 countries included. Of the 20 countries, 13 did not need EC review or approval. In Norway, the Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics (REK) assessed the protocol and concluded that the study fell outside of the Health Research Act, cf. Section 2, and could therefore be carried out without the approval of REK (application number: 246689). An institutional review board (IRB) in the USA (Pearl IRB) considered this study to be exempt according to FDA 21 CFR 56.104 and 45CFR46.104(b)(2):(2). This exemption was applied to Canada and Chile. The study protocol was reviewed and approved by Bellberry Human Research EC in Australia (Application number: 2021-02-196). The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine EC (Serial number: 2020421NI). The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Interuniversity Ethics Committee (A.I. Evdokimov Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry) in Russia (Protocol number: 13). Informed digital consent was obtained from patients before study participation. The procedure for obtaining electronic informed consent was outlined in the Psoriasis and Beyond study protocol, which was reviewed and approved according to local laws and regulations.

As per protocol, eligible patients may only be included in the study after providing IRB/EC-approved informed consent. Once a patient qualifies following the completion of the online qualification screener, the patient will be provided an electronic ICF and will confirm consent by selecting “I have read, understood and accepted the points described in the informed consent document and I do freely give my consent to join this study as described to me in this document.”

April W. Armstrong serves as a research investigator and/or scientific advisor to AbbVie, BI, BMS, EPI, Incyte, Leo Pharma, UCB, Janssen, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Ortho Dermatologics, Sun, Dermavant, Dermira, Sanofi, Regeneron, and Pfizer. Barbra Bohannan, Sicily Mburu, and Silvia Fernandez Barrio do not have any conflicts of interest. Laura C. Coates has received grants/research support from AbbVie, Amgen, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB; has worked as a paid consultant for AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Gilead, Galapagos, Janssen, Moonlake, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB; and has been paid as a speaker for AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, GSK, Janssen, Medac, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB. Alexis Ogdie has served as a consultant for AbbVie, Amgen, BMS, Celgene, CorEvitas, Gilead, GSK, Janssen, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB and has received grant funding to the University of Pennsylvania from AbbVie, Novartis, and Pfizer and to Forward Databank from Amgen. Ivette Alarcon, Torben Kasparek, and Susan Frade are full-time employees at Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland. Matthias Augustin has served as a consultant for or has been a paid speaker for clinical trials sponsored by companies that manufacture drugs used for the treatment of psoriasis, including AbbVie, Almirall, Amgen, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Centocor, Eli Lilly, GSK, Janssen-Cilag, Leo Pharma, Medac, Merck, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB, and Xenoport.

This study was funded by Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland. Novartis participated in collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, and approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication. The design and study conduct were performed by Novartis in conjunction with IFPA, Ipsos, and patient advocacy groups.

Study conception and design: April W. Armstrong, Barbra Bohannan, Sicily Mburu, Ivette Alarcon, Torben Kasparek, Susan Frade, Silvia Fernandez Barrio, and Matthias Augustin. First draft of the manuscript: April Armstrong, Ivette Alarcon, and Susan Frade. All subsequent versions’ reviews and edits and data interpretation: April Armstrong, Barbra Bohannan, Sicily Mburu, Laura C. Coates, Alexis Ogdie, Ivette Alarcon, Torben Kasparek, Susan Frade, Silvia Fernandez Barrio, and Matthias Augustin. All authors approved the final version to be published.

The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available. Novartis is committed to sharing with qualified external researchers’ access to patient-level data and supporting clinical documents from eligible studies. These requests are reviewed and approved on the basis of scientific merit. All data provided are anonymized to respect the privacy of patients who have participated in the survey in line with applicable laws and regulations. The data may be requested from the corresponding author of the manuscript and further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.