Monday 18 April 2016

Psoriasis severity linked to work productivity, quality of life

By Lauren Biscaldi

Patients with severe psoriasis have a heightened reduction in quality of life (QoL) and work productivity, according to research published in Clinical and Experimental Dermatology.
As part of a recent survey conducted in the United States, dermatologists were asked to provide information on psoriasis patients' overall disease severity, symptom severity, and existing comorbidities. The patients completed QoL questionnaires – the EuroQoL 5-Dimension Health (EQ-5D) questionnaire, the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaire – and the researchers used multivariate regression to determine the relationship between variable outcomes and psoriasis severity.
Data from 694 patients were analyzed; 48% of patients had mild psoriasis, 46% had moderate psoriasis, and 6% had severe psoriasis. The most commonly reported symptom was scaling (82% of patients); participants also reported itching (73%) and pain (32%). Increased psoriasis severity was associated with an increase of symptoms and a reduced QoL and decrease in EQ-5D scores.
“WPAI scores increased with severity,” noted Neil J Korman, MD, PhD, of the Clinical Trials Unit at the University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio. “It is important that physicians recognize the impact of severe disease on patients' lives and take steps to address this.”

http://www.clinicaladvisor.com/psoriasis-information-center/psoriasis-severity-affects-patients-quality-of-life/article/490195/

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