Cal/BDP cream preferred over foam formulation among patients with psoriasis

Key takeaways:

• Cal/BDP is a combination formula, comprised of calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate, that treats psoriasis.
• 54% and 55% of patients preferred the cream formulation for their body and scalp, respectively.

Calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate, or CAL/BDP, combination cream vs. foam had higher satisfaction ratings among patients with psoriasis, suggesting the cream formulation may increase adherence, according to a study.

“Despite the demonstrated efficacy of topically applied combination Cal/BDP, successful management of a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disease such as psoriasis in the real-world setting may be hindered if patients do not adhere to the dosing or frequency of application recommendations from their prescriber,” Leon H. Kircik, MD, clinical professor of dermatology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and colleagues wrote. “Among the multiple factors that can either encourage or hinder adherence is patient preference for and satisfaction with the topical treatment vehicle.”

To better understand the difference in patient satisfaction between cream and foam Cal/BDP formulations, the authors conducted a split-body, subject-blind study including 150 patients (mean age, 54 years; 62% women; 85% white) with mild to moderate psoriasis, of which 146 rated body use and 49 rated scalp use.

Patients were instructed to apply the cream on one side of the body and/or scalp and foam on the other. Both before and after applying the formulations, patients completed a self-administered questionnaire.

Overall Vehicle Preference Measure scores ranked higher in the cream vs. foam groups (P = .0043).

Significantly higher proportions of patients reported that they preferred using Cal/BDP cream over the foam due to preferences with skin shininess (57% vs. 22%; P < .0001), skin softness (46% vs. 26%; P = .0231), skin stickiness (59% vs. 18%; P < .0001) and stinging or burning (17% vs. 6%; P = .0125).

Similarly, the cream outperformed the foam formulation among those that applied the topicals to the scalp, with more patients preferring the cream over foam because it disrupted their daily life less (51% vs. 12%; P = .003).

As measured on the Psoriasis Treatment Convenience Scale, patients also preferred the cream over the foam due to preferences with ease of application (36% vs. 12%; P = .0001), moisturization (50% vs. 21%; P = .0003) and overall satisfaction (46% vs. 28%; P = .0425). On the other hand, patients preferred the foam when it came to greasiness during application (50% vs. 29%; P = .0196).

Overall, 54% and 55% of patients noted a final preference for the cream formulation for their body and scalp, respectively, although this finding did not reach statistical significance.

Nevertheless, the researchers concluded that using Cal/BDP cream vs. foam may encourage better adherence.

“High patient satisfaction may positively influence treatment adherence and therapeutic outcomes,” the authors wrote.