Among patients with ≥1 biologic claim, the most frequently prescribed biologics were ustekinumab (31.7%), secukinumab (31.1%), ixekizumab (27.6%), adalimumab (24.5%), and etanercept (6.2%) (Figure 2A). Less than 1% of patients had ≥1 claim for any other biologic.
Non-biologic drug claims were also analyzed. During the baseline period, 1,243 patients (81.8%) had ≥1 non-biologic drug claim. The most common non-biologic psoriasis drugs during the baseline period were topical corticosteroids (including combination drugs; 66.9%), oral corticosteroids/combinations (26.6%), methotrexate (12.6%), and apremilast (10.9%) (Figure 2B). Less than 10% of patients had ≥1 claim for any other nonbiologic drug.
Prior Medical Claims
During the baseline period, 35.9% of patients had ICD-10 codes that indicated long-term medication use (Figure 3). The most common non-psoriasis diagnoses were primary hypertension (25.1%), type 2 diabetes without complications (13.4%), and hyperlipidemia (13.4%).
The most common procedures (based on CPT or HCPCS codes) reflected routine medical care such as outpatient office visits (15 minutes: 60.4%; 25 minutes: 49.0%), venous blood collection (40.1%), and complete blood count (32.0%) (Figure 4). In terms of specific procedures, tuberculosis tests (16.3%), A1C tests (13.2%), thyroid stimulating hormone tests (10.2%), and triamcinolone injections (6.8%) were most common.
