OBJECTIVES: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) treatment options have increased including biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs). Examining treatment patterns in real-world settings is important for patients and healthcare providers. Our objective was to reveal PsA patient characteristics (including concomitant psoriasis [PSO] and prior bDMARD exposure) in relation to bDMARD initiation and dosing in real-world clinical practice in Germany.

METHODS: This study utilized German AOK Plus claims data. Adult PsA patients with newly initiated bDMARD treatment between 2018–2021 were identified. Patient characteristics were screened from 2017 onwards. For patients initiating secukinumab, dosing was reported separately for patients with and without PSO given the variability in prescribing recommendations.

RESULTS: This study identified 842 PsA patients initiating a new bDMARD. 246 (29%) were bDMARD-experienced. Overall mean age was 51.5 years and 50.5% were female. The most frequently prescribed bDMARDs were adalimumab (29%) and secukinumab (20%). The most frequently observed prescriber specialty was dermatologist (41%). The proportion of bDMARD-experienced patients varied across bDMARDs and was highest amongst guselkumab initiators (51%). The most frequent comorbidity was hypertension (54%).

Amongst 166 secukinumab initiators, starting and maintenance dose data were available for 115 patients. 17% received 150 mg and 42% received 300 mg, as both starting and maintenance dose. 37% received a starting dose of 150 mg and a maintenance dose of 300 mg. 5% received a starting dose of 300 mg and a maintenance dose of 150 mg. A similar pattern was observed regardless of bDMARD-history.

CONCLUSIONS: This study characterized patients with PsA treated with different bDMARDs and suggests that factors such as biologic-experience play roles in the choice of bDMARD treatment but less so for secukinumab dosing. Future studies are warranted to identify patient outcomes associated with treatment patterns, including persistence, which can assist in tailoring therapies to patient needs.