calcipotriene and fluocinolone

Psoriasis is among the top dermatologic diagnoses for older adult patients, and the number of older adult psoriasis patients is expected to rise.. To characterize trends in older adult psoriasis health care practices of US ambulatory physician offices from 1993 to 2009.. We used data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey to assess demographics, specialties seen, and treatment in visits by older adult patients, 55 years of age and older.. There were approximately 14.1 million outpatient visits for psoriasis among the older adult population during the study period. Older adult psoriasis patients were 52.4% female and 47.6% male. The most frequent older adult age group seen for psoriasis was the 55 to 64 year age group. Dermatologists saw 69.3% of patients, internists saw 14.5%, and general and family practitioners saw 11.6%. Topical corticosteroids were the most frequently prescribed medications. Dermatologists preferred clobetasol whereas non-dermatologists more commonly prescribed betamethasone. For both the 18 to 54 year age group and the 55 and older group, the leading 7 out of 10 medications prescribed were topical corticosteroids and calcipotriene. However, etanercept, coal tar, and fluocinolone were among the leading medications in the younger group but not in the 55 and older group.. Treatment approach for older adult psoriasis patients showed some differences among medical specialties and among the younger and older age groups. Further research specific to older adult psoriasis patients is needed to determine optimal treatment strategies for this patient population.

Topics: Administration, Cutaneous; Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Ambulatory Care; Betamethasone; Calcitriol; Clobetasol; Coal Tar; Dermatologic Agents; Dermatology; Etanercept; Family Practice; Female; Fluocinolone Acetonide; Glucocorticoids; Health Care Surveys; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Immunologic Factors; Internal Medicine; Keratolytic Agents; Male; Middle Aged; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Psoriasis; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; United States; Young Adult