Impact of psoriatic disease on women aged 18–45: results from a multinational survey across 11 European countries

Background and Objectives : Plaque psoriasis (PSO) is a long-term inflammatory condition that can cause concomitant joint symptoms (psoriatic arthritis; PsA), in up to 30% of patients. The impact of psoriatic disease on disease outcomes and quality of life is greater for women than men. We evaluate the impact of psoriatic disease on women aged 18–45 years across Europe. Methods : Women aged 18–45 years with moderate to severe PSO, PsA, or PSO+PsA (PSO with progression to PsA) and prior biologic experience, recruited from market research panels and patient association groups (PAGs) of the International Federation of Psoriasis Associations (IFPA), European Federation of Psoriasis Patient Associations (EUROPSO) and Arthritis Ireland, completed a survey. Questions spanned social and psychological wellbeing, employment and family planning. Question types included 5- or 7-point agreement scales, where the highest/lowest two ratings were considered agreement/disagreement, respectively. Results are reported as proportions of those who selected the answer divided by overall respondents for each question. Women were not required to answer all questions. Results : Survey respondents (N=573) had a diagnosis of PSO (n=236), PsA (n=173), or PSO+PsA (n=164). Women self-reported similar mean scores for physical (57.0/100) and mental health (59.0/100). A fifth (21%) had not achieved their desired career due to PSO/PsA; career dissatisfaction and increased sick leave were linked to poor mental health. Some women reported having a limited social life (33%), smaller families (34%) and being more likely to adopt children (27%) due to PSO/PsA. A quarter (27%) of women reported not understanding enough about PSO/PsA (non-members of PAGs: 37% versus members: 8%). Conclusions : Our findings highlight the considerable burden of psoriatic disease for women of childbearing age. Increased provision of tailored information for women, training for healthcare professionals (HCPs) and shared decision-making between patients and HCPs may help to better support women with psoriatic disease