Prevalence and Advanced Systemic Treatment Prescription Patterns for Scalp Psoriasis in the Real-World Dermatology Setting in the United States
Author(s)
Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD, MSCI, FAAD1, Brett Stephenson, PharmD2, Lawrence Rasouliyan, MPH3, Bruce Strober, MD, PhD4.
1Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science and Center for Medical Dermatology + Immunology Research, Chicago, IL, USA, 2Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc., Westlake Village, CA, USA, 3OMNY Health, Atlanta, GA, USA, 4Yale University School of Medicine and Central Connecticut Dermatology, Cromwell, CT, USA.
1Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science and Center for Medical Dermatology + Immunology Research, Chicago, IL, USA, 2Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc., Westlake Village, CA, USA, 3OMNY Health, Atlanta, GA, USA, 4Yale University School of Medicine and Central Connecticut Dermatology, Cromwell, CT, USA.
OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of plaque psoriasis (PsO) with scalp involvement and associated prescription patterns of advanced systemic treatments (ASTs; oral phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, oral Janus kinase inhibitor, or biologic therapy) in the real-world dermatology setting in the United States (US).
METHODS: A retrospective analysis (2017-2025) of electronic health records (EHRs) from outpatient dermatology practices in the US was conducted using the OMNY Health real-world data platform. Data extracted included the diagnosis of PsO, the presence of scalp involvement, and the use of ASTs. Body surface area affected (BSA) was also extracted, to understand its effect on treatment patterns for patients identified with scalp involvement.
RESULTS: Overall, 363,606 of 384,536 patients with PsO had location data available in their EHR. Of those patients, approximately one-half also had ≥ 1 BSA measurement recorded. The prevalence of scalp PsO was similar between the overall population (42.7%) and among patients with BSA data available (47.5%). Overall, 26.4% of patients with scalp PsO, regardless of a BSA record, were prescribed an AST; while 37.9% of patients with BSA > 10% and 18.6% of patients with BSA ≤ 10% were prescribed an AST.
CONCLUSIONS: Scalp involvement was present in a substantial proportion of patients (> 42%) with PsO in the US. Patients with scalp PsO were likely to receive AST with more than one-quarter of patients being prescribed an AST. Despite having low BSA (< 10%), indicative of mild-to-moderate psoriasis that is commonly managed with topical treatments, > 18% of patients received AST, suggesting that scalp involvement is a factor in treatment choice. These results suggest unmet need for innovative topical treatments for scalp PsO which can be used prior to AST, with additional research needed to understand treatment decisions among patients with scalp PsO.
METHODS: A retrospective analysis (2017-2025) of electronic health records (EHRs) from outpatient dermatology practices in the US was conducted using the OMNY Health real-world data platform. Data extracted included the diagnosis of PsO, the presence of scalp involvement, and the use of ASTs. Body surface area affected (BSA) was also extracted, to understand its effect on treatment patterns for patients identified with scalp involvement.
RESULTS: Overall, 363,606 of 384,536 patients with PsO had location data available in their EHR. Of those patients, approximately one-half also had ≥ 1 BSA measurement recorded. The prevalence of scalp PsO was similar between the overall population (42.7%) and among patients with BSA data available (47.5%). Overall, 26.4% of patients with scalp PsO, regardless of a BSA record, were prescribed an AST; while 37.9% of patients with BSA > 10% and 18.6% of patients with BSA ≤ 10% were prescribed an AST.
CONCLUSIONS: Scalp involvement was present in a substantial proportion of patients (> 42%) with PsO in the US. Patients with scalp PsO were likely to receive AST with more than one-quarter of patients being prescribed an AST. Despite having low BSA (< 10%), indicative of mild-to-moderate psoriasis that is commonly managed with topical treatments, > 18% of patients received AST, suggesting that scalp involvement is a factor in treatment choice. These results suggest unmet need for innovative topical treatments for scalp PsO which can be used prior to AST, with additional research needed to understand treatment decisions among patients with scalp PsO.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-09, ISPOR Real-World Evidence Summit 2025, Tokyo, Japan
Value in Health Regional, Volume 49S (September 2025)
Code
RWD224
Topic Subcategory
Health & Insurance Records Systems
Disease
SDC: Sensory System Disorders (Ear, Eye, Dental, Skin)