Utilization of outpatient care for psoriasis.

Abstract

Little is known about the utilization of medical services for psoriasis. Our purpose was to quantify the medical resources utilized in the United States for the treatment of psoriasis. By utilizing data tapes from the National Center of Health Statistics we estimated the number of outpatient visits to physicians for psoriasis and the types of drugs prescribed. Visits to physicians in the United States made principally for psoriasis average 1.5 million per year. Topical steroids are most often prescribed. At less than 10% of visits are systemic therapies (methotrexate, psoralen, oral retinoids) prescribed. Although substantial medical resources are utilized in the treatment of psoriasis, the majority of affected persons make less than one visit per year to a physician for treatment.