Abstract
Objective To investigate risk factors for the occurrence of psoriasis, and to estimate the influence of seasonal variation on the severity of psoriasis. Methods Totally, 507 patients with psoriasis vulgaris were divided into two groups according to the time of clinic visits: summer-fall group(n = 248)and winter-spring group(n = 259). Questionnaires were used to investigate possible risk factors for psoriasis, including work environment(outdoor or indoor), heredity, gender, age, spiritual factors, smoking, drinking, infections, etc. The severity of disease was evaluated according to psoriasis area and severity index(PASI). Results There was no significant difference in the number of clinical visits made by patients with psoriasis vulgaris between different seasons, but the PASI score was significantly higher in the winter-spring group than in the summer-fall group(15.6 ± 6.2 vs. 10.3 ± 5.7, P< 0.01). The summer-fall group showed increased proportion of patients working outdoors(31.5% vs. 22.0%, P< 0.05), but decreased incidence rates of predisposing spiritual events(26.3% vs. 12.5%, P< 0.01)and infections 2 weeks before the occurrence of psoriasis(23.6% vs. 13.7%, P< 0.01). Conclusions Occupational environment and predisposing factors markedly differ among psoriatic patients visiting to physicians in different seasons, hinting that seasonal and environmental factors play an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis vulgaris. Key words: Psoriasis; Seasons; Environment; Risk factors; Questionnaires
Published Version
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