Racial and Ethnic Disparities Found in Psoriatic Arthritis Outcomes

A cross-sectional study using the National Health and Wellness Survey (2018–2020) highlighted significant racial and ethnic disparities in patient-reported and economic outcomes for individuals with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), the investigators reported in Rheumatology and Therapy.

“Participants with self-reported moderate/severe PsA reported a greater burden than those with self-reported mild PsA,” the researchers noted. “The burden varied notably by race/ethnicity, revealing differences in quality of life, health care utilization, and work productivity.”

The analysis included 1544 participants: 1073 non-Hispanic white, 114 non-Hispanic Black, 223 Hispanic, and 134 categorized as Other. Researchers found that moderate/severe PsA was linked with significantly worse health-related quality of life (HRQoL), more impairment of work productivity and activity (WPAI), increased health care resource utilization (HCRU), and higher medical costs compared to mild PsA.

Black participants reported more absenteeism (31.11% vs. 16.69%; P=0.007) and greater activity impairment (54.27% vs. 47.96%; P=0.047) than White participants but had fewer health care provider visits (5.93 vs. 7.42; P=0.039) and rheumatologist consultations (0.29 vs. 0.53; P=0.028) over the previous 6 months. The study observed no significant differences between Hispanic and White participants in these outcomes.

Among White participants with moderate/severe PsA, there was a higher likelihood of depression (P<0.001), lower HRQoL (P<0.001), and more emergency room visits (P=0.001) compared to those with mild PsA. However, these moderation effects were not seen in Black or Hispanic groups.

“Further research is needed to better understand the differential burden of PsA among racial/ethnic groups, especially due to limitations from small sample sizes in Hispanic and non-Hispanic racial/ethnic groups,” the researchers concluded. The findings indicate the need for targeted health care strategies to address these disparities and improve outcomes across all PsA patients.

Reference:

 Lin I, Krupsky K, Way N, Patel AA, Tieng A. Patient-reported and economic racial and ethnic disparities in patients with psoriatic arthritis: results from the national health and wellness survey. Rheumatol Ther. 2024;11(6):1569-1590. doi:10.1007/s40744-024-00717-7