Impact of adalimumab treatment on patient-reported outcomes: Results from a Phase III clinical trial in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis

Objective: The effect of adalimumab on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) was evaluated in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis during the initial 16-week, double-blind period of a 52-week, Phase III, multicenter trial. Methods: Patients were randomized to placebo or adalimumab 80 mg at Week 0 and 40 mg every other week from Week 1 to Week 15. PROs were evaluated throughout the study and included the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire-Specific Health Problem (WPAI-SHP), and several patient-rated symptom scales. Results: The adalimumab-treated group reported significantly greater improvements in DLQI total score (p<0.001), SF-36 Physical Component Summary score (p<0.001), and Mental Component Summary score (p<0.001) compared with the placebo-treated group over 16 weeks. Significant differences, favoring adalimumab, were also seen for the DLQI subscale scores (p < 0.001); SF-36 scale scores (p<0.001); WPAI-SHP work impairment (p<0.001), activity limitation (p<0.001), and overall work impairment scores (p<0.001); patient's global assessment of disease severity (p<0.001), psoriasis pain (p<0.001), and psoriasis-related pruritus (p = 0.002). Conclusion: Adalimumab was efficacious in improving dermatology-specific and general health-related quality of life, work and activity limitations, and psoriasis-related symptoms in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis over a 16-week period.