Patient-Reported Disease Severity and Quality of Life Among Arabic Psoriatic Patients: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Quality of life and satisfaction with life in patients with skin diseases

Individuals with skin disease may experience negative symptoms such as itching and pain, social stigma, and isolation. This cross-sectional study included 378 patients with skin diseases. The Dermatology Quality of Life Index (DLQI) score was found to be higher in individuals with skin disease. A high score indicates an impaired quality of life. Married people than single people, those who are 31 years old and older than those who are 30 years old and younger have higher DLQI scores. And also those who work than those who are unemployed, those who have diseases than those who do not have any other diseases, and those who smoke than those who are non-smokers have higher DLQI scores. In order to increase the quality of life of individuals with skin diseases, it is necessary to detect risky situations as well as symptom control and add psychosocial and psychotherapeutic interventions to the treatment plan.

Psoriasis in Northern Saudi Arabia: Clinical features and implications for quality of life

Introduction:

Psoriasis is a chronic non-contagious inflammatory skin disorder, which might impair patient’s social relationships, limit leisure activities, and lower self-esteem. Psoriasis patients might be stigmatized leading to psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression.

Objectives:

This study aimed to outline the clinical features of psoriasis and its effects on quality of life, and the feeling of stigmatization among psoriasis patients.

Methods:

This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted on 109 adult psoriasis patients in Arar City, Saudi Arabia. The study collected data on socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of psoriasis patients, self-reported psoriasis severity using the self-assessment Simplified Psoriasis Index (sa-SPI-s), patients’ quality of life using the dermatological life quality index (DLQI), and the feeling of stigmatization using the six-items stigmatization scale.

Results:

The mean age of psoriasis onset in studied patients was 20 (±7.65) years, females represented 58.72%, and 22% were unemployed. Joint and nail affection were reported in 46.79% and 51.38%, respectively. One third of patients had positive family history of psoriasis. Seasonal variation, life stressors, smoking and skin injuries were frequent provocative factors for psoriasis lesions. The average sa-SPI-s was 10.08 (±10.41), which was correlated with patients’ ages, disease duration, obesity, and pruritis. The average DLQI and six-items stigmatization scale for psoriasis patients were 8.95 (±5.77) and 7.61 (±4.5), respectively that were correlated with sa-SPI-s.

Conclusion:

The clinical manifestations and chronicity of psoriasis impaired patients’ quality of life and accompanied with social stigma due to skin disfigurement. These effects need to be addressed for better care of patients.

Assessing the validity and interpretability of the Simplified Psoriasis Index in Tunisian patients

INTRODUCTION

Multiple scores have been developed to assess the severity of psoriasis, but these scores have many limitations. The Simplified Psoriasis Index (SPI) is a summary score with separate components for current severity (SPI-s), psychosocial impact (SPI-p), and past history and interventions (SPI-i). It is available in two similar versions: proSPI and saSPI.

AIM

To assess the validity of the SPI by studying its correlation to the benchmark scores in Tunisian patients.

METHODS

It was a prospective bicentric study including 80 patients with plaque psoriasis.

RESULTS

The median PASI was 7.6 and the median DLQI was 9. The median proSPI-s was 6 and the median saSPI-s was 8. The median SPI-p was 7. The median SPI-i was 2. There was a strong correlation between the proSPI-s and PASI (r=0.87) and between the proSPI-s and saSPI-s (r=0.82). There was a medium correlation between saSPI-s and PASI (r=0.70) and between SPI-p and DLQI (r=0.67). The threshold value for proSPI-s and saSPI-s was 7.25. The threshold value for SPI-p was 6.5.

CONCLUSION

The SPI aims to provide a concise but global measure of the severity and impact of psoriasis on quality of life. The use of SPI has several advantages: the simplicity of use, the additional weight given to critical locations of psoriasis, the possibility for the patient to self-assess his own disease, and the possibility of evaluating all the dimensions of psoriasis at the same time.

The Relationship Between Alzheimer's Disease and Skin Diseases: A Review

Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia placing a heavy burden on the healthcare system worldwide. Skin diseases are also one of the most common health problems. Several skin diseases are associated with Alzheimer's disease through different mechanisms. This review summarizes the relationship between Alzheimer's disease and several types of skin diseases, including bullous pemphigoid, hidradenitis suppurativa, psoriasis, skin cancer, and cutaneous amyloidosis, and provides suggestions based on these associations. Neurologists, dermatologists, and general practitioners should be aware of the relationship between Alzheimer's disease and skin diseases. Dermatology/neurology consultation or referral is necessary when needed.