Epidemiology and Health Care of Generalized Pustular Psoriasis in Germany – Methodology and Outcomes of Claims Data Analysis

Kristina Hagenström, Katharina Müller, Nesrine Ben-Anaya, Matthias Augustin Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, GermanyCorrespondence: Kristina Hagenström, Institute for Health Services Research in Derm...

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Main Authors: Hagenström K, Müller K, Ben-Anaya N, Augustin M
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2025-07-01
Series:Psoriasis: Targets and Therapy
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Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/epidemiology-and-health-care-of-generalized-pustular-psoriasis-in-germ-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-PTT
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author Hagenström K
Müller K
Ben-Anaya N
Augustin M
author_facet Hagenström K
Müller K
Ben-Anaya N
Augustin M
author_sort Hagenström K
collection DOAJ
description Kristina Hagenström, Katharina Müller, Nesrine Ben-Anaya, Matthias Augustin Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, GermanyCorrespondence: Kristina Hagenström, Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistraße 52, Hamburg, 20246, Germany, Tel +49 40 741059513, Fax +49 40 74105534, Email k.hagenstroem@uke.dePurpose: Epidemiological and health care data on generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) show large differences in literature. This study assessed GPP epidemiology, comorbidities and health care in Germany.Patients and Methods: Nationwide population-related German claims data were analyzed using different case definitions for internal validation.Results: In 2019, the prevalence of GPP in Germany in adults ranged from 8 to 39 and incidence from 1 to 15 persons per 100,000. Prevalence was higher in women and increased with age. Thirty-three percent had at least one other psoriatic ICD-10 code. People with GPP had significantly more skin diseases as well as cardiovascular and mental diseases than persons without psoriasis/GPP. The average annual drug costs per capita were € 2050 and were highest in those receiving biologicals (€ 15,524). Marked differences in treatment by specialist were observed.Conclusion: Acknowledging that the observed frequency or costs associated with GPP may be underestimated due to a few inherent limitations is important. Differences in GPP coding behavior and diagnostic accuracy may contribute to variations in epidemiology. The high disease burden is reflected by high annual costs and by significant comorbidity.Plain Language Summary: Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a severe form of psoriasis that causes painful, pus-filled blisters on the skin. Our study, conducted in Germany, aimed to explore how common GPP is, what other health problems people with GPP experience, and how they are treated. We analyzed health insurance data from across the country, using various methods to ensure our findings were accurate.We found that GPP is a rare condition compared to other types of psoriasis, affecting between 8 and 39 adults per 100,000 people in Germany in 2019. The number of people with GPP varied, with new cases ranging from 1 to 15 per 100,000 people. GPP was more common in women and increased with age. In addition, about a third of people with GPP also had other types of psoriasis. People with GPP had more skin diseases, heart problems, and mental health problems than people without psoriasis. The average annual cost of treating GPP was € 2050 per person, but this amount could be as high as € 15,524 for those receiving advanced treatments known as biologics. We also saw significant differences in how GPP is treated depending on which specialist was involved.In conclusion, our study highlights that GPP is a costly condition with a high burden of additional health problems. Variations in how GPP is diagnosed and coded might explain differences in reported prevalence and costs. Improving diagnostic accuracy and treatment approaches could lead to better care and reduced expenses for patients.Keywords: prevalence, incidence, frequency of illness, statutory health insurance data, validation
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spelling doaj-art-0ae944b6daea4b10b8e4881a7e23f30c2025-08-20T03:27:43ZengDove Medical PressPsoriasis: Targets and Therapy2230-326X2025-07-01Volume 15Issue 1273283104812Epidemiology and Health Care of Generalized Pustular Psoriasis in Germany – Methodology and Outcomes of Claims Data AnalysisHagenström K0Müller K1Ben-Anaya N2Augustin M3Institute for Health Service Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP)Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP)Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP)Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nung (IVDP)Kristina Hagenström, Katharina Müller, Nesrine Ben-Anaya, Matthias Augustin Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, GermanyCorrespondence: Kristina Hagenström, Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistraße 52, Hamburg, 20246, Germany, Tel +49 40 741059513, Fax +49 40 74105534, Email k.hagenstroem@uke.dePurpose: Epidemiological and health care data on generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) show large differences in literature. This study assessed GPP epidemiology, comorbidities and health care in Germany.Patients and Methods: Nationwide population-related German claims data were analyzed using different case definitions for internal validation.Results: In 2019, the prevalence of GPP in Germany in adults ranged from 8 to 39 and incidence from 1 to 15 persons per 100,000. Prevalence was higher in women and increased with age. Thirty-three percent had at least one other psoriatic ICD-10 code. People with GPP had significantly more skin diseases as well as cardiovascular and mental diseases than persons without psoriasis/GPP. The average annual drug costs per capita were € 2050 and were highest in those receiving biologicals (€ 15,524). Marked differences in treatment by specialist were observed.Conclusion: Acknowledging that the observed frequency or costs associated with GPP may be underestimated due to a few inherent limitations is important. Differences in GPP coding behavior and diagnostic accuracy may contribute to variations in epidemiology. The high disease burden is reflected by high annual costs and by significant comorbidity.Plain Language Summary: Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a severe form of psoriasis that causes painful, pus-filled blisters on the skin. Our study, conducted in Germany, aimed to explore how common GPP is, what other health problems people with GPP experience, and how they are treated. We analyzed health insurance data from across the country, using various methods to ensure our findings were accurate.We found that GPP is a rare condition compared to other types of psoriasis, affecting between 8 and 39 adults per 100,000 people in Germany in 2019. The number of people with GPP varied, with new cases ranging from 1 to 15 per 100,000 people. GPP was more common in women and increased with age. In addition, about a third of people with GPP also had other types of psoriasis. People with GPP had more skin diseases, heart problems, and mental health problems than people without psoriasis. The average annual cost of treating GPP was € 2050 per person, but this amount could be as high as € 15,524 for those receiving advanced treatments known as biologics. We also saw significant differences in how GPP is treated depending on which specialist was involved.In conclusion, our study highlights that GPP is a costly condition with a high burden of additional health problems. Variations in how GPP is diagnosed and coded might explain differences in reported prevalence and costs. Improving diagnostic accuracy and treatment approaches could lead to better care and reduced expenses for patients.Keywords: prevalence, incidence, frequency of illness, statutory health insurance data, validationhttps://www.dovepress.com/epidemiology-and-health-care-of-generalized-pustular-psoriasis-in-germ-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-PTTPrevalenceincidencefrequency of illnessstatutory health insurance datavalidation
spellingShingle Hagenström K
Müller K
Ben-Anaya N
Augustin M
Epidemiology and Health Care of Generalized Pustular Psoriasis in Germany – Methodology and Outcomes of Claims Data Analysis
Psoriasis: Targets and Therapy
Prevalence
incidence
frequency of illness
statutory health insurance data
validation
title Epidemiology and Health Care of Generalized Pustular Psoriasis in Germany – Methodology and Outcomes of Claims Data Analysis
title_full Epidemiology and Health Care of Generalized Pustular Psoriasis in Germany – Methodology and Outcomes of Claims Data Analysis
title_fullStr Epidemiology and Health Care of Generalized Pustular Psoriasis in Germany – Methodology and Outcomes of Claims Data Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Epidemiology and Health Care of Generalized Pustular Psoriasis in Germany – Methodology and Outcomes of Claims Data Analysis
title_short Epidemiology and Health Care of Generalized Pustular Psoriasis in Germany – Methodology and Outcomes of Claims Data Analysis
title_sort epidemiology and health care of generalized pustular psoriasis in germany amp ndash methodology and outcomes of claims data analysis
topic Prevalence
incidence
frequency of illness
statutory health insurance data
validation
url https://www.dovepress.com/epidemiology-and-health-care-of-generalized-pustular-psoriasis-in-germ-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-PTT
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AT benanayan epidemiologyandhealthcareofgeneralizedpustularpsoriasisingermanyampndashmethodologyandoutcomesofclaimsdataanalysis
AT augustinm epidemiologyandhealthcareofgeneralizedpustularpsoriasisingermanyampndashmethodologyandoutcomesofclaimsdataanalysis