Adult Psoriasis Research Articles

Prospective, Observational, Non-Interventional, Multicentre Study on the Efficacy and Tolerability of a New Calcipotriol/Betamethasone Aerosol Foam (Enstilar®) in Patients with Plaque Psoriasis under Daily Practice Conditions

Background/Aims: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of the new aerosol foam of calcipotriol 50 µg/g plus betamethasone dipropionate 0.5 mg/g (Cal/BD foam, Enstilar®) in psoriasis vulgaris under daily practice conditions. Methods: 410 adult psoriasis patients (56% male) from 87 German sites were enrolled in a 4-week, open-label, prospective, non-controlled, observational, non-interventional study. Results: At baseline, patients presented with a psoriasis severity of mild (41.81%), moderate (49.63%), and severe (8.31%) assessed by an investigator global assessment (IGA). After 4 weeks of treatment, 49% of the patients achieved an IGA of clear/almost clear. The mean affected body surface area was reduced from 12.91 to 7.55%, the PASI from 10.4 to 5.2 (p < 0.0001). 43% of the patients with severe IGA achieved treatment success (IGA = 0/1 and ≥2-step improvement). 93% of the patients did not show any adverse events. Conclusion: The new Cal/BD foam showed a convincing efficacy and tolerability profile in daily practice, particularly in patients with severer disease manifestations.

Real World Experience with Calicpotriene and Betamethasone Dipropionate Foam 0.005%/0.064% (Cal/BD Foam) in the Treatment of Adult Psoriasis Itch from Retrospective Chart Review

Abstract not available. Disclosures: Study sponsored by LEO Pharma. Copyright 2018 SKIN

Dimethyl fumarate for the treatment of plaque psoriasis

Dimethyl fumarate (Skilarence) is an oral therapy licensed for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults when systemic treatment is indicated. This article discusses its efficacy, adverse effects and place in therapy.

Assessment and management of psoriasis in adults in primary care

Assessment and management of psoriasis in adults in primary care

Assessment and management of psoriasis in adults in primary care

Assessment and management of psoriasis in adults in primary care

Management of Common Side Effects of Apremilast.

Apremilast is a relatively new therapy for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults. While this medication is considered safe with a very low risk of serious side effects, a few common (≥5% of patients) mild to moderate side effects have been reported, including diarrhea, nausea, headache, and nasopharyngitis. Not addressing these symptoms may lead to medication nonadherence and unnecessary discontinuation of therapy. These side effects are often easily managed with interventions available to the practicing dermatologist, and in only rare instances will these side effects require dose adjustment or discontinuation of therapy. The purpose of this article is to review common side effects of apremilast at its approved dose of 30 mg orally twice daily (BID) and to provide clear, simple recommendations for their management in dermatological practice.

The journey of adult psoriasis patients towards biologics: past and present - Results from the BioCAPTURE registry.

A considerable disease period often precedes initiation of a biologic in patients with psoriasis. Little is known about this important period in patients' lives. Evaluation of this 'journey' can reveal important insights and opportunities for physicians and healthcare decision makers. (i) To describe patient and treatment characteristics until the start of biologic treatment in patients with severe psoriasis, (ii) to assess shifts in early (2005-2009) versus established (2010-2015) biologics prescription periods, (iii) to assess changes in hospital/day care admissions before vs. after starting biologics. Explorative, retrospective study on the treatment characteristics of the disease period until first biologic, presented with descriptive statistics of patients included in the BioCAPTURE registry. Journeys of 2005-2009 and 2010-2015 were compared with statistical tests to identify important shifts. Median TUS (time until conventional systemic) was 11.0 years and median TUB (time until biologic) was 18.9 years for all patients treated from 2005 to 2015. Most patients received three different conventional antipsoriatic systemic therapies. We noticed a small trend towards a shorter journey (TUB) with only two conventional systemic agents instead of three before initiating a biologic in later years (2010-2015, vs. 2005-2009). We also noticed a significant decrease in (day care) admissions comparing the two years before, versus the first two years after the start of a biologic treatment (17.7 vs. 8.6 admissions/100 follow-up years, P < 0.001). Cyclosporine, intensive topical treatment (dithranol), retinoids and PUVA therapy lost popularity in recent years. The 'journey' of patients with psoriasis towards a biologic is still long and characterized by many different treatments. Shifts towards fewer conventional drugs before biologic initiation and a clear decrease in hospital and day care admissions before vs. after a biologic are seen. Improvement of this journey, especially in young or recently diagnosed patients, can decrease negative influences on patients' lives and reduce societal impact.

Dimethyl Fumarate: A Review in Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis.

Fumaric acid esters (FAEs) have been used in the treatment of psoriasis in some European countries for over 20years, and are recommended in the European guidelines for the management of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Dimethyl fumarate (Skilarence®; hereafter referred to as DMF) is an orally administered FAE indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults in need of systemic medicinal therapy; unlike other available FAEs, it is not formulated in combination with monoethyl fumarate salts. EU approval was based on results of the phase III BRIDGE trial, and supported by previous publications of FAE preparations, including a combination of FAEs containing dimethyl fumarate and monoethyl fumarate salts (DMF/MEF; Fumaderm®). In the BRIDGE trial, DMF was superior to placebo in terms of the proportion of patients achieving a≥75% improvement from baseline in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 75) and a Physician Global Assessment score of 0 (clear) or 1 (almost clear) at week 16. DMF was also noninferior to DMF/MEF for PASI 75 at week 16. Patients receiving DMF also reported clinically meaningful improvements in body surface area involvement and health-related quality of life. The safety profile of DMF was similar to that of DMF/MEF, and no major or unexpected safety concerns were identified. The most common adverse events (flushing and gastrointestinal disorders) occurred mainly during the first few weeks of treatment. Currently available data indicate that DMF is an effective oral systemic treatment option for patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

Dimethyl fumarate for psoriasis

Dimethyl fumarate (Skilarence - Almirall) was licensed by the European Medicines Agency in June 2017 for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults in need of systemic...

Adalimumab, etanercept and ustekinumab for treating plaque psoriasis in children and young people: systematic review and economic evaluation.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that predominantly affects the skin. Adalimumab (HUMIRA®, AbbVie, Maidenhead, UK), etanercept (Enbrel®, Pfizer, New York, NY, USA) and ustekinumab (STELARA®, Janssen Biotech, Inc., Titusville, NJ, USA) are the three biological treatments currently licensed for psoriasis in children. To determine the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of adalimumab, etanercept and ustekinumab within their respective licensed indications for the treatment of plaque psoriasis in children and young people. Searches of the literature and regulatory sources, contact with European psoriasis registries, company submissions and clinical study reports from manufacturers, and previous National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) technology appraisal documentation. Included studies were summarised and subjected to detailed critical appraisal. A network meta-analysis incorporating adult data was developed to connect the effectiveness data in children and young people and populate a de novo decision-analytic model. The model estimated the cost-effectiveness of adalimumab, etanercept and ustekinumab compared with each other and with either methotrexate or best supportive care (BSC), depending on the position of the intervention in the management pathway. Of the 2386 non-duplicate records identified, nine studies (one randomised controlled trial for each drug plus six observational studies) were included in the review of clinical effectiveness and safety. Etanercept and ustekinumab resulted in significantly greater improvements in psoriasis symptoms than placebo at 12 weeks' follow-up. The magnitude and persistence of the effects beyond 12 weeks is less certain. Adalimumab resulted in significantly greater improvements in psoriasis symptoms than methotrexate for some but not all measures at 16 weeks. Quality-of-life benefits were inconsistent across different measures. There was limited evidence of excess short-term adverse events; however, the possibility of rare events cannot be excluded. The majority of the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for the use of biologics in children and young people exceeded NICE's usual threshold for cost-effectiveness and were reduced significantly only when combined assumptions that align with those made in the management of psoriasis in adults were adopted. The clinical evidence base for short- and long-term outcomes was limited in terms of total participant numbers, length of follow-up and the absence of young children. The paucity of clinical and economic evidence to inform the cost-effectiveness of biological treatments in children and young people imposed a number of strong assumptions and uncertainties. Health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) gains associated with treatment and the number of hospitalisations in children and young people are areas of considerable uncertainty. The findings suggest that biological treatments may not be cost-effective for the management of psoriasis in children and young people at a willingness-to-pay threshold of £30,000 per quality-adjusted life-year, unless a number of strong assumptions about HRQoL and the costs of BSC are combined. Registry data on biological treatments would help determine safety, patterns of treatment switching, impact on comorbidities and long-term withdrawal rates. Further research is also needed into the resource use and costs associated with BSC. Adequately powered randomised controlled trials (including comparisons against placebo) could substantially reduce the uncertainty surrounding the effectiveness of biological treatments in biologic-experienced populations of children and young people, particularly in younger children. Such trials should establish the impact of biological therapies on HRQoL in this population, ideally by collecting direct estimates of EuroQol-5 Dimensions for Youth (EQ-5D-Y) utilities. This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42016039494. The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme.

Cost-Utility Analysis of Biological Therapies In Psoriasis Using Real World Evidence

To assess the cost-utility of biological therapies in the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe psoriasis, using evidence from real-world data. A Markov model was developed to compare different sequences of biological therapies and apremilast for the management of adult psoriasis patients with inadequate response to conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (cDMARD-IR). Efficacy and safety data were derived from published network meta-analyses. The drug survival data in the model was derived from the DERMBIO registry. Benefits were measured in quality adjusted life years (QALYs) and were derived from published EQ-5D data from the BADBIR registry (Iskandar et al, 2017). Dermatology Quality of Life Index (DLQI) data were also reported, and we estimated alternative utility values by mapping DLQI to EQ-5D using several published mapping algorithms. Health care resource use and costs were calculated based on data from published literature and public UK sources. The base case analysis included treatments for which survival data was available (adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab, ustekinumab), with the remaining therapies tested in scenario analyses using different survival and quality of life assumptions. Parameters related to efficacy, cost and utility were tested in sensitivity analysis. Base case results estimated that sequences with ustekinumab as first-line therapy had significantly better overall drug survival than all other biologics as first-line treatment for psoriasis, and were therefore more cost-effective. Scenario analysis with newer therapies suggested that apremilast, secukinumab and ixekizumab would require significantly better first-line drug survival, quality of life improvements and/or reduced pricing to achieve similar cost-effectiveness. The model was sensitive to the assumptions of drug survival as well as the different utility mapping algorisms. The results of this analysis with real-world drug survival data suggest that ustekinumab represents a more cost-effective treatment than other biologics as a first-line treatment for cDMARD-IR patients with psoriasis.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between psoriasis and metabolic syndrome

Several studies have shown a relationship between psoriasis and metabolic syndrome (MS), but no meta-analysis has been restricted to studies that adjusted for confounders. To determine the association between psoriasis and MS. A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies on psoriasis and MS in adults was performed from MEDLINE, Scopus, SciELO, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and LILACS from inception to January 2016. We performed a random effects model meta-analysis for those studies reporting adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The subgroup analysis was related to geographic location, diagnosis criteria and risk of bias. In all, 14 papers including a total of 25,042 patients with psoriasis were analyzed. We found that MS was present in 31.4% of patients with psoriasis (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.28-1.65). Middle Eastern studies (in Israel, Turkey, and Lebanon) (OR, 1.76, 95% CI, 0.86-2.67) reported a greater risk for MS than European studies (in Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Denmark) (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.25-1.55). Few adjusted studies existed, and there was inconsistency between publications. Because of the increased risk for MS, clinicians should consider screening patients with psoriasis for metabolic risk factors.

Pediatric psoriasis: Should we be concerned with comorbidity? Cross-sectional study.

Similarly to psoriasis in adults, recent research has linked psoriasis to several comorbidities in children. The aim of this study was therefore to describe comorbidities associated with pediatric psoriasis, to investigate their relationship with psoriasis characteristics and severity, and to perform a review of the literature. A cross-sectional study was performed on a sample of Moroccan children with psoriasis, in 2014-2016. A total of 64 pediatric psoriasis patients had metabolic comorbidities in association with psoriasis; 20 children had non-metabolic comorbidities; and 76 children had no comorbidity. The metabolic comorbidities were as follows: abdominal obesity, 40% (n = 64); overweight, 12.5% (n = 20); metabolic syndrome, 3.7% (n = 6); and dyslipidemia, 3.1% (n = 5); the non-metabolic comorbidities were atopy, 4.3% (n = 7); epilepsy, 3.1% (n = 5); celiac disease, 1.8% (n = 3); vitiligo, 1.8% (n = 3); alopecia ariata, 0.6% (n = 1); and valvular cardiopathy, 0.6% (n = 1). No cases of diabetes mellitus, obesity, or high blood pressure were recorded. Significant factors associated with metabolic comorbidity were extended psoriasis vulgaris >10% (P = 0.01; OR, 2.19), severe psoriasis especially pustular and erythroderma (P = 0.018; OR, 2), nail involvement (P = 0.016; OR, 1.5), face involvement (P = 0.01; OR, 1,59), resistance to topical treatment (P = 0.003; OR, 2.5) and alteration of quality of life (P = 0.02; OR, 1,7). There was no significant risk factor associated with non-metabolic comorbidity. Given the frequent association of pediatric psoriasis with many disorders, these comorbidities should be investigated and identified so that they can be taken into account in the management of psoriasis in order to avoid treatment failure. Regular follow up should be carried out in patients at risk of metabolic comorbidity.

Skin-infiltrating, interleukin-22–producing T cells differentiate pediatric psoriasis from adult psoriasis

Evidence from adult psoriasis studies implicates an imbalance between regulatory and effector T cells, particularly TH-17-producing T cells, in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Little is known about the immunopathology of psoriasis in children. We sought to functionally characterize the inflammatory cell profiles of psoriatic plaques from pediatric patients and compare them with healthy, age-matched controls and adult psoriasis patients. Skin samples from pediatric psoriasis patients and healthy controls were analyzed by multiparameter flow cytometry to determine the dominant immune cell subsets present and cytokines produced. Lesional tissue from pediatric psoriasis patients had significantly increased interleukin (IL) 22 derived from CD4+ and CD8+ cells compared with the tissues from healthy pediatric controls and adult psoriasis patients. Tissue from pediatric psoriasis patients had significantly less elevation of IL-17 derived from CD4+ and CD8+ cells compared with the tissue from adult psoriasis patients. In contrast with the lesions from adult patients, lesional skin in pediatric patients with psoriasis did not have increases in regulatory T cells. This is a pilot study, thus the sample size is small. Significant differences in IL-17 and IL-22 expression were observed in the pediatric psoriasis patients compared with pediatric healthy controls and adult psoriasis patients. IL-22 might be relevant in the pathogenesis of pediatric psoriasis and represents a potential treatment target unique to pediatric psoriasis.

Economic burden of comorbidities in psoriasis patients in the United States: results from a retrospective U.S. database

BackgroundPsoriasis is a multifactorial, inflammatory, skin disease associated with various comorbidities. The cost of those comorbidities is not well characterized. The present study assesses the incremental burden of comorbidities on healthcare resource utilization, direct costs and indirect costs associated with short-term disabilities among patients with psoriasis in the United States.MethodsA retrospective, U.S. cohort analysis was conducted using a large claims database. Adult psoriasis patients with at least two diagnoses of psoriasis during the years 2010 and 2011 (one psoriasis diagnosis had to happen in the year 2010) and with continuous enrollment of medical and pharmacy benefits in the years 2010 and 2011 were included. Psoriasis patients were categorized and compared according to the presence or absence of pre-selected comorbidities in the year 2010. Adjusted annual direct (costs associated with outpatient, emergency room, and inpatient claims, and outpatient pharmacy claims) and indirect costs (short-term disabilities) was assessed in patients with and without comorbidities using a regression analysis, controlling for age, gender, and psoriasis severity in year 2010.ResultsIn total, 56,406 patients (mean [SD]) age, 51.6 [14.6] years) were included in the analysis. The most prevalent comorbidities were hypertension (34.3%), hyperlipidemia (33.5%), cardiovascular disease (17.7%), diabetes (14.2%), and psoriatic arthritis (9.9%). Psoriasis patients with comorbidities used more healthcare resources than those without comorbidities. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) (95% CI) for patients with cardiovascular disease was 1.5 (1.4 − 1.5) for outpatient visits, 2.6 (2.4 − 2.8) for hospitalizations, and 2.3 (2.2 − 2.5) for ER visits, showing higher IRRs across all three types of resource use. The mean annual adjusted direct cost differences (i.e., incremental adjusted costs) in psoriasis patients with and without comorbidities were $9914.3, $8386.5, and $8275.1 for psoriatic arthritis, peripheral vascular disease, and cardiovascular disease, respectively. The mean annual incremental adjusted indirect costs of short-term disabilities were $1333, $1195, $994.9, and $996.6 for cerebrovascular disease, obesity, peripheral vascular disease, and depression, respectively.ConclusionThe presence of comorbidities was associated with higher healthcare resource utilization and costs among patients with psoriasis.

Efficacy and safety of adalimumab every other week versus methotrexate once weekly in children and adolescents with severe chronic plaque psoriasis: a randomised, double-blind, phase 3 trial

Adalimumab is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis in adults. We assessed the efficacy and safety of adalimumab in children and adolescents with severe plaque psoriasis. This randomised, double-blind, multiperiod, phase 3 trial was done at 38 clinics in 13 countries. Patients (aged ≥4 to <18 years) with severe plaque psoriasis who had not responded to topical therapy were randomly assigned with an interactive voice or web-response system (1:1:1) to receive adalimumab 0·8 mg/kg or 0·4 mg/kg subcutaneously at week 0, then every other week starting at week 1, or oral methotrexate once weekly (0·1-0·4 mg/kg) for 16 weeks. Randomisation was stratified by history of etanercept treatment, with a block size of three. Responders were withdrawn from treatment (for up to 36 weeks) and re-treated with adalimumab (for 16 weeks) if disease became uncontrolled. Ranked primary efficacy endpoints were the proportion of patients who achieved at least 75% improvement from baseline in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI75) score and clear or minimal physician global assessment (PGA) score at week 16, comparing adalimumab 0·8 mg/kg with methotrexate. Efficacy analysis was by intention to treat, and safety analysis included all patients who received at least one dose of study drug. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01251614, and has been completed. Between Dec 14, 2010, and Feb 5, 2015, 114 patients were randomly assigned to adalimumab 0·8 mg/kg (n=38), adalimumab 0·4 mg/kg (n=39) or methotrexate (n=37). At week 16, PASI75 was achieved in 22 (58%) of 38 patients in the adalimumab 0·8 mg/kg group compared with 12 (32%) of 37 patients in the methotrexate group (p=0·027). 23 (61%) of 38 patients in the adalimumab 0·8 mg/kg group and 15 (41%) of 37 in the methotrexate group achieved clear or minimal PGA (p=0·083). In the adalimumab 0·4 mg/kg group, 17 (44%) of 39 patients achieved PASI75 and 16 (41%) achieved clear or minimal PGA. The most frequent adverse events were infections (17 [45%] of 38 in the adalimumab 0·8 mg/kg group during initial treatment; 22 [56%] of 39 in the adalimumab 0·4 mg/kg group; 21 [57%] of 37 in the methotrexate group). Three serious adverse events were reported, all in patients in the adalimumab 0·4 mg/kg group, and were not judged to be related to study drug. Treatment with adalimumab 0·8 mg/kg in children and adolescents with severe plaque psoriasis provided significant improvements in PASI75 and a non-significant increase in the proportion of patients who achieved clear or minimal PGA compared with methotrexate. No new safety risks were identified. AbbVie.

NICE recommends ixekizumab for persistent severe plaque psoriasis

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), in its final draft guidance issued this week, has recommended ixekizumab, an antibody that inhibits interleukin-17A, as an option for treating adults with severe plaque psoriasis that doesn’t respond to standard therapies. The guidance recommended ixekizumab as an option for treating plaque psoriasis in adults, but only if they had severe disease (a …

Topical medication utilization and health resources consumption in adult patients affected by psoriasis: findings from the analysis of administrative databases of local health units.

AimThe objectives of this study were to: 1) analyze the drug utilization pattern among adult psoriasis patients who were newly prescribed with topical medication; and 2) assess their adherence to topical therapy and the possibility of switching to other strategies in the treatment process.MethodsAn observational retrospective analysis was conducted based on administrative databases of two Italian local health units. All adult subjects who were diagnosed with psoriasis or who were newly prescribed for topical medication with at least one prescription between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2014, were screened. Only patients who were “non-occasional users of topical drugs” (if they had at least two prescriptions of topical drugs in a time space of 2 years) were considered for the first and second objectives in the analysis. The date of the first prescription of topical agents was identified as the index date (ID), which was then followed for all time available from ID (follow-up period). The adherence to therapy was assessed on the basis of cycles of treatment covered in the 6 months before the end of the follow-up period. The mean health care costs in patients who switched to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) or biologics after the ID were evaluated.ResultsA total of 17,860 patients with psoriasis who were newly prescribed for topical medication were identified. A total of 2,477 were identified as “non-occasional users of topical drugs”, of whom 70.2% had a prescription for a topical fixed combination regimen at ID. Around 19% adhered to their medication, whereas 6% switched to other options of psoriasis treatment. Multivariable logistic regression model shows that patients on fixed combination treatment were less likely to be non-adherent to treatment and less likely to switch to other treatments. The annual mean pharmaceutical costs were €567.70 and €10,606.10 for patients who switched to DMARDs and biologics, respectively.ConclusionOur findings show that the use of fixed combination topical treatment can lead to improve the likelihood of patients being adherent to treatment and can decrease the likelihood of switching the treatment to DMARDs or biologics.

A Preliminary Clinical Study on 100 Egyptian Psoriatic Patients

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated, inflammatory condition frequently seen in the clinical practice with a reported prevalence of 0.6 to 4.8 percent in the general population. However, data on psoriasis in Egypt are scarce. So, our aim was to investigate the clinical characterization of psoriasis in 100 Egyptian patients. Method: One hundred Egyptian psoriasis patients were enrolled in this study. A detailed questionnaire was filled including demographic and clinical aspects of the disease. Some laboratory tests were done to search for associated diseases like diabetes, metabolic syndrome and hepatitis C virus (HCV) and to correlate them with the disease severity. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS version 17. Results: Thirty seven patients were diagnosed with juvenile-onset psoriasis. There was no significant difference between the mean PASI score for adult versus juvenile onset psoriasis. Pustular psoriasis affected 15% of the patients including children and infants. Metabolic syndrome was absent in juvenile onset psoriatic patients and wasn’t associated with a significantly higher PASI score in the adults affected. PASI score was significantly high in the HCV positive and the hypertensive patients. Conclusion: Although the study sample is quite small to reach definite judgments on psoriasis in Egypt, yet we noticed that early onset psoriasis is quite a common and challenging disease. Metabolic syndrome is not common in the studied children with psoriasis. Pustular psoriasis is a common entity even in children and infants. HCV is associated with a severe disease and might be an inducing factor for psoriasis.

Healthcare resource utilization, healthcare costs and dose escalation in psoriasis patients initiated on ustekinumab versus adalimumab: a retrospective claim study

Background: Adalimumab and ustekinumab are effective psoriasis treatments. This study compares healthcare resource utilization (HRU), costs and dose escalation and describes starting dose trends in ustekinumab versus adalimumab psoriasis patients.Methods: Adult psoriasis patients initiating adalimumab/ustekinumab on/after 25 September 2009 were selected from a US claims database and classified into biologic-naïve and biologic-experienced samples.Results: A total of 602 ustekinumab and 3470 adalimumab biologic-naïve and 1193 ustekinumab and 1467 adalimumab biologic-experienced patients were included. In both samples, ustekinumab patients had significantly more days with medical services (biologic naïve: IRR =1.14; biologic experienced: IRR =1.08) and higher average total costs by more than $14,000 annually. Ustekinumab users were 2.6 and 1.9 times more likely to have a dose escalation (increase ≥45 mg in ustekinumab; ≥40 mg in adalimumab) in biologic-naive and biologic-experienced patients, respectively. Between S2/2009 and S1/2012, the proportion of patient initiating on high dose (ustekinumab: >45 mg/28 days; adalimumab: >160 mg/28 days) increased substantially for ustekinumab patients (biologic naïve: +18.6 percentage points [PP]; biologic experienced: +29.9 PP) but remain stable for adalimumab patients (biologic naïve: −0.3 PP; biologic experienced: +2.3 PP).Conclusion: Ustekinumab patients had more HRU, higher total costs and were more likely to have a dose escalation. The proportion of patients initiating ustekinumab high dose increased substantially between 2009 and 2012.