62% of Aragonese patients with psoriasis are not being treated

62% of patients with moderate or severe psoriasis in Aragon are not being treated for their disease, above the national average, which is 52%, and 100% of those who are being treated with biological drugs have , today, his illness is active.

Psoriasis is a chronic dermatological disease that affects more than a million people in Spain and greatly impacts the quality of life of those who suffer from it, not only on a physical level, but also on a social and emotional level, they point out from the Psoriasis Action association in a press release.

The NEXT Psoriasis survey carried out by this association among 2.165 patients with the disease from all over Spain, shows, in the opinion of the organization, that in Aragon this dermatological and chronic disease is "clearly undertreated." Although those in the Communities of Cantabria or La Rioja are in a worse situation, with 100% of patients untreated, or Murcia with 66%.

In addition to the fact that patients with psoriasis in its most serious phases are being "undertreated", according to the manager of Acción Psoriasis, Santiago Alfonso, the survey also reveals "the inequities in terms of access to treatment depending on the region in which be alive.”

The survey also reveals, in general terms, that patients in more serious phases of the disease who, even though they are currently treated with advanced therapies such as biological drugs, have not managed to paralyze the activity of their disease, 100% in Aragon versus 76% of the Spanish average.

This is why the entity demands that the regional health departments allow access to the entire existing therapeutic range without limitations and to be able to provide and prescribe the best treatment available depending on the case so that patients with psoriasis achieve a quality of life. appropriate.

One of the main needs of patients is to achieve complete clearing of their skin for as long as possible, which in Aragon is considered a first need by 54,1% of patients. “Patients with psoriasis need to be able to forget that they suffer from the disease, which would also help minimize the high impact it has on their quality of life today,” summarizes Alfonso.

Patients who also demand a more prominent role in restructuring the new consultation scheme that the new normal has brought about and in which they hope that many of the experiences launched due to covid-19 will be implemented. “We are facing a unique moment to review care processes, incorporate new technologies into consultations, such as teledermatology, and extend hours of face-to-face consultations,” explains the manager of Acción Psoriasis, who warns of the need for These chronically ill people do not have barriers because they continue to need medical attention.