The burden associated with generalized pustular psoriasis: A Canadian population-based study of inpatient care, emergency departments, and hospital- or community-based outpatient clinics

Background: Not much is known about the burden of generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP). Objectives: To document the burden of GPP in Canada and to compare it with psoriasis vulgaris (PV). Methods: National data were used to identify Canadian adult patients with GPP or PV hospitalized or visiting an emergency department (ED) or hospital-/community-based clinic between April 1, 2007, and March 31, 2020. Analyses of 10-year prevalence and 3-year incidence were conducted. Costs were determined when the most responsible diagnosis (MRD) was GPP or PV (MRD costs) and for all reasons (all-cause costs). Results: In the prevalence analysis, 10-year mean (SD) MRD costs were $2393 ($11,410) for patients with GPP and $222 ($1828) for those with PV (P < .01). In the incidence analysis, patients with GPP had higher 3-year mean (SD) MRD costs ($3477 [$14,979] vs $503 [$2267] for PV; P < .01). Higher all-cause costs were also associated with patients with GPP. Inpatient/ED mortality was higher in the GPP group in our 10-year prevalence (9.2% for patients with GPP vs 7.3% for those with PV; P = .01) and 3-year incidence (5.2% for patients with GPP and 2.1% for those with PV; P = .03) analyses. Limitations: Physician and prescription drug data were not available. Conclusion: Patients with GPP incurred higher costs and mortality than patients with PV.