Efficacy and local safety of a calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate ointment in elderly patients with psoriasis vulgaris

The proportion of elderly patients with psoriasis vulgaris is set to increase in the future due to an ageing population. This descriptive analysis assessed the efficacy and safety of a new ointment containing calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate (Daivobet(R)/Dovobet(R)) in a pooled analysis of patients aged 60 years and over. A total of 1534 patients, including 357 aged greater than or equal to 60 years, with psoriasis vulgaris received the two-compound ointment once-daily in four randomised, double-blind, studies. After 4 weeks treatment the mean reduction in PASI was 67.8% in patients < 60 years compared with 72.6% in patients greater than or equal to 60 years. "Controlled disease" (i.e. a global assessment of "absence of disease" or "very mild disease"), according to the investigators, was achieved by 52.1% of patients < 60 years and 58.2% of patients greater than or equal to 60 years. Patients in both age groups reported a similar number of lesional/perilesional adverse drug reactions; 6.4% in patients < 60 years vs 5.0% in patients greater than or equal to 60 years. Thus, the new two-compound ointment is effective and well-tolerated in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris, regardless of age group.