Long-Term Evaluation of the Psoriasis Epidemiology Screening Tool (PEST)

Overview

The study evaluates the long-term performance of the Psoriasis Epidemiology Screening Tool (PEST) in identifying patients at risk for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) within a large cohort in Canada and Latin America. Findings indicate that many patients initially negative for PsA became positive over five years.

Background

Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disorder that can lead to psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in up to 30% of patients. Early diagnosis of PsA is crucial to prevent irreversible joint damage, yet it remains challenging due to the lack of specific diagnostic tests. The PEST questionnaire serves as a practical tool for healthcare professionals to identify patients at risk for PsA.

Data Highlights

No numerical data available in the provided material.

Key Findings

• Many patients with psoriasis transitioned from PEST negative to PEST positive over five years.
• The PEST questionnaire has demonstrated good sensitivity and specificity for identifying PsA risk.
• The study confirms the PEST's cross-sectional discriminant capacity at baseline.
• Longitudinal performance characteristics of the PEST were assessed in a real-world cohort.

Clinical Implications

The findings suggest that healthcare providers should regularly utilize the PEST questionnaire to monitor psoriasis patients for potential PsA development. This could enhance early detection and management of PsA, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Conclusion

The study reinforces the utility of the PEST questionnaire in clinical practice for identifying patients at risk of PsA.

Related Resources & Content

1. Rationale, objectives and design of PURE, a prospective registry of patients with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis in Canada and Latin America - PMC, 2019 -- Rationale, objectives and design of PURE
2. Recommendations | Psoriasis: assessment and management | Guidance | NICE, 2025 -- Recommendations for Psoriasis Management
3. EULAR recommendations for the management of psoriatic arthritis with pharmacological therapies: 2023 update, 2023 -- EULAR PsA Management Recommendations
4. Drugs - Real World Outcomes — Insights into Patient Perspectives on Psoriatic Disease in the United States: Findings from the Psoriasis and Beyond Global Research Initiative
5. Drug Safety — Evaluating Signal Detection and Methodological Challenges in a Real-World Registry: Insights from Long-Term Safety Assessments in the Psoriasis Longitudinal Assessment and Registry (PSOLAR)
6. Clinical Rheumatology — A Patient Education Brochure Enhances Screening Participation for Arthritis Among Psoriasis Patients in Primary Care, Particularly in Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Areas
7. Clinical Rheumatology — Effectiveness of Certolizumab Pegol With and Without Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs Over Four Years in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis: Findings from the RAPID-PsA Randomized Controlled Trial
8. GRAPPA Annual Meeting Newsletter 2024 - FINAL
9. Scientific summary - Early detection to improve outcome in people with undiagnosed psoriatic arthritis: the PROMPT research programme including RCT - NCBI Bookshelf
10. Recommendations | Psoriasis: assessment and management | Guidance | NICE
11. EULAR recommendations for the management of psoriatic arthritis with pharmacological therapies: 2023 update
12. Cross-cultural adaptation and preliminary diagnostic performance assessment of the psoriasis epidemiology screening tool (PEST) questionnaire in Spanish - PubMed
13. Rationale, objectives and design of PURE, a prospective registry of patients with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis in Canada and Latin America - PMC