Elsevier

JAAD International

Volume 6, March 2022, Pages 61-67
JAAD International

Original article
Generalized pustular psoriasis in Brazil: A public claims database study

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdin.2021.12.001Get rights and content
Under a Creative Commons license
open access

Background

Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare and severe phenotype of psoriasis characterized by sudden outbreak of widespread coalescent sterile pustules associated with a spectrum of systemic symptoms.

Objective

We aimed to describe the epidemiology and treatment of GPP in Brazil from the public health care system perspective.

Methods

This was a retrospective public claims database study, using outpatient and inpatient databases, with information from January 2018 to August 2020, based on records of health resource utilization by patients with GPP. Outpatient treatment regimens and fatal inpatient outcomes were described.

Results

In total, 1458 outpatients of all ages were identified, of whom 53% were women. We estimated the GPP prevalence in Brazil to be between 0.7 and 0.9 per 100,000. Acitretin was the most commonly dispensed drug. Of all the outpatients, 769 outpatients could be tracked in the inpatient database, and 151 had hospital admissions during the study period. Of them, 5.3% had a fatal outcome during hospitalization. A primary skin condition or an infection was the most frequent hospitalization cause.

Limitation

The International Classification of Diseases codes for GPP and psoriasis have not been previously validated in this context.

Conclusion

GPP is a rare disease in Brazil and affects individuals of all ages and both sexes. Hospitalizations and disease-related deaths highlight the need for its prompt diagnosis, close medical follow-up, and effective treatment.

Key words

Brazilian public health system
claims database study
DATASUS
epidemiology
generalized pustular psoriasis
psoriasis hospitalization
psoriasis treatment
pustular psoriasis

Abbreviations used

GPP
generalized pustular psoriasis
ICD
International Classification of Diseases
PV
psoriasis vulgaris
DATASUS
Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde
SIA
Sistema de Informações Ambulatoriais
SIH
Sistema de Informações Hospitalares
SUS
Sistema Único de Saúde

Cited by (0)

Funding sources: The study was funded by Boehringer Ingelheim do Brasil.

IRB approval status: Not applicable.