Abstract
BackgroundThis study aimed to determine the socioeconomic and clinical characteristics affecting health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with psoriasis.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted between March and June 2015 using data obtained via an Internet-based survey completed by a psoriasis patient group in Korea. The survey included items regarding demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical characteristics and HRQoL. Patients’ HRQoL impairment was classified as severe if their Dermatology Life Quality Index Scores were ≥ 11. Factors influencing HRQoL impairment were identified using multivariate logistic regression analysis.ResultsOf the 299 respondents, 161 (53.8%) exhibited severe HRQoL impairment. The Dermatology Life Quality Index scores were significantly associated with gender, annual income, neck psoriasis, psoriasis-related resignation from work, and use of oral and herbal medications. The severity of HRQoL impairment in women was twice that observed in men (odds ratio [OR] = 2.00, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05–3.80). Patients with psoriasis on the neck exhibited significantly greater HRQoL impairment than those with psoriasis on other areas of their bodies (OR = 2.30, 95% CI: 1.20–4.43). With respect to the socioeconomic status, patients who earned > 40 million KRW (approximately 34,000 USD; high-income group) showed less HRQoL impairment compared with those who had lower incomes (OR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.28–0.80). Patients with severe HRQoL impairment used oral (OR = 2.04, 95% CI: 1.20–3.44) and herbal (OR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.04–3.34) medications more often relative to patients with less severe HRQoL impairment.ConclusionsHRQoL in patients with psoriasis was significantly associated with their demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and employment status. The presence of psoriasis on exposed areas of the body was significantly associated with patients’ HRQoL and employment status. Further research is required to evaluate the impact of psoriasis on patients’ productivity.
Highlights
This study aimed to determine the socioeconomic and clinical characteristics affecting health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with psoriasis
Study design and setting We conducted a cross-sectional study between March and June 2015, using data obtained via an Internet-based survey in Korea
Patients with psoriasis on the neck exhibited significantly greater HRQoL impairment relative to those with psoriasis in other areas of the body (OR = 2.30, 95% CI: 1.20–4.43)
Summary
This study aimed to determine the socioeconomic and clinical characteristics affecting health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with psoriasis. Korea National Health Insurance data showed that the number of patients with psoriasis in Korea was 168,862 in 2013 and had increased by 1.5% per year for 5 years from 2011 to 2016. The economic burden of disease for psoriasis has increased from 11 million USD to 21 million USD during this period [3]. Despite this increase in the number of patients and burden of disease for psoriasis, the misconception that skin diseases are less serious relative to other illnesses remains
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
