Biologics utilization for psoriasis is lower in black compared with white patients

Abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects patients of all skin colors. Biologic therapies, first approved for psoriasis in the early 2000s, have ushered in a new era of treatments for moderate to severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Non-Caucasian patients have a lower prevalence of psoriasis (1.9% in Blacks, 1.6% in Hispanics, and 1.4% in other races) compared to Caucasians (3.6%),1 but often present with worse disease severity.2 Yet, little is known about the utilization of biologic therapies versus traditional therapies in patients of color. To address this gap in knowledge, we sought to determine rates of biologic medication use in Black and other minority races compared to Caucasians.