Ke. Mckenna et Rs. Stern, THE IMPACT OF PSORIASIS ON THE QUALITY-OF-LIFE OF PATIENTS FROM THE 16-CENTER PUVA FOLLOW-UP COHORT, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 36(3), 1997, pp. 388-394
Background: The impact of psoriasis on the quality of life of patients
is likely to be principally related to alterations in individual appe
arance and consequent psychosocial disability. Quantifying the impact
of psoriasis and related changes from therapy would help in the select
ion of optimal management. Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate the
impact of psoriasis on patients with severe disease who have had photo
chemotherapy (PUVA). Methods: In 1979 we interviewed 877 of 988 still
participating patients who were enrolled in 15 of 16 centers in the PU
VA Follow-up Study. We determined the impact of psoriasis on quality o
f Life with a questionnaire that had been modified to incorporate meas
ures of impairment that are likely to be affected by cutaneous disease
. Results: Psoriasis had substantial impact on the quality of life. Wo
men were more likely than men to report impairment in quality of life
dimensions. The impact of disease decreased with increasing age. Moder
ate to high relative impact on total quality of life was more often re
ported by patients who had recently used UVB phototherapy than by thos
e using PUVA or methotrexate. Conclusion: Psoriasis has a substantial
impact on the quality of life. This impact seems to decrease with incr
easing age. Use of specific treatments are also associated with the ex
tent to which psoriasis affects quality of life.