Patient Benefit Index (PBI) in the treatment of psoriasis - results of the National Care Study "PsoHealth"

Background: Psoriasis vulgaris is a common disease that follows a chronic course. So far, few studies have addressed outcome methods which evaluate the benefits of drugs and medical devices by measuring patient preferences. Objective: Assessment of patients' outcomes using the "Patient benefit index" (PBI), a validated goal attainment scaling tool, in the treatment of psoriasis. Data were obtained within an epidemiological study in 2,009 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and/or psoriatic arthritis. Methods: Cross-sectional study in 133 nationwide German dermatological practices and hospital departments. The following were recorded a) in the doctors' questionnaire previous treatments and diseases, clinical characteristics and psoriasis area and severity index (PAST), b) in the patients' questionnaire quality of life (LQ), patient-relevant therapeutic benefits and satisfaction with care. Results: On average, patients achieved a total PBI of 2.5 +/- 1.1. 86.7% of patients showed a more than minimum benefit (PBI>1). Patients treated with biologicals had a higher benefit (mean PBI 3.0) than patients in other groups (e.g. PBI 2.6 in systemics). Conclusion: PBI values indicate that systemic agents and biologics are of high therapeutic benefit to the vast majority of patients. The development of the PBI has enabled a decisive step to be taken in the area of scientifically-based outcome assessments.