Efficacy, quality of life and treatment satisfaction: an indirect comparison of calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate cream versus foam for treatment of psoriasis

Abstract

Objective: To assess how the use of calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate (Cal/BDP) cream impacted efficacy, patients’ quality of life (QoL), and treatment satisfaction versus Cal/BDP foam. Methods: Data from clinical trials of Cal/BDP cream and foam were analyzed, applying the common anchor Cal/BDP gel. Efficacy was assessed by Physician Global Assessment (PGA) treatment success and ≥75% reduction in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI75 response); QoL by Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI); treatment satisfaction by Psoriasis Treatment Convenience Scale (PTCS) and Topical Product Usability Questionnaire (TPUQ). Results: Treatment with Cal/BDP cream was on par with foam on PGA treatment success (risk ratio (RR) for Cal/BDP cream vs foam: 0.80; 95%CI: 0.56, 1.14; p = 0.21) and PASI75 response (RR for Cal/BDP cream vs foam: 0.85; 95%CI: 0.64, 1.13; p = 0.27) when assessed at the treatment duration of 8 weeks for Cal/BDP cream and 4 weeks for Cal/BDP foam. Treatment with Cal/BDP cream was associated with significantly greater treatment satisfaction versus foam on the domains: overall treatment satisfaction (p = 0.01), ‘ease of application’ (p < 0.001), ‘lack of greasiness’ (p < 0.001), ‘moisturizing effect’ (p = 0.01), and almost significantly greater improvement on the domain ‘easily incorporated into daily routine’ (p = 0.07). Furthermore, there was a trend for greater DLQI improvement with cream versus foam when assessed at recommended treatment duration (mean difference (MD) for Cal/BDP cream vs foam: -1.00; 95%CI: -2.20, 0.20; p = 0.10). Conclusions: Indirect comparison analyses showed that Cal/BDP cream significantly improves treatment satisfaction and tends to improve QoL versus foam. Cal/BDP cream is on par with foam on efficacy.