Work

Real-World Burden of Generalized Pustular Psoriasis in a French Observational Study: Prevalence, Incidence, Healthcare Resource Utilization, Comorbidities, Treatment Use, and Mortality

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is rare, chronic, and associated with life-threatening complications. We investigated the burden of GPP in France. METHODS: Using data from 2010 to 2021 in the Système National des Données de Santé database, healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), costs, comorbidities, mortality, and treatments were compared among GPP (N = 4351), plaque psoriasis (N = 12,945), and general population (N = 12,981) cohorts, matched for sex, age, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score, and region. GPP prevalence and incidence were also investigated. RESULTS: Annually, there were 0.5-0.8 new GPP cases per 100,000 people. Across the cohorts, 54.5-54.7% of people were male, with mean age 58.7-59.5 years and mean CCI score 1.98-2.06. The GPP cohort incurred significantly greater HCRU and costs versus the plaque psoriasis and general population cohorts, including greater proportions of patients receiving emergency care (78% vs 63% and 55%) and intensive care (28% vs 17% and 14%), longer hospitalizations (mean 38.5 vs 26.2 and 22.4 days per patient), and higher medication costs (€4360 vs €1991 and €1543 per patient-year), respectively. Despite similar CCI scores, GPP was associated with more cardiometabolic and psychological comorbidities versus the plaque psoriasis and general population cohorts, e.g., hypertension (37% vs 21% and 20%), obesity (21% vs 9% and 6%), depression (13% vs 4% and 4%), alcohol abuse (16% vs 3% and 3%), and sleep disorders (8% vs 4% and 3%), respectively. Treatments in the GPP cohort were those used for plaque psoriasis, including topical steroids (77%), systemic steroids (50%), and biologics (23%). Twelve-month survival was 86.9% (GPP), 97.5% (plaque psoriasis), and 90.0% (the general population). CONCLUSION: HCRU, costs, and comorbidities with GPP were often double those for comparator cohorts, and mortality was higher. These findings highlight the need to use GPP-targeted treatments that improve patient outcomes and may reduce the burden on healthcare systems.

Source: Dermatology and Therapy

DOI: 10.1007/s13555-026-01691-4