Evaluation of life quality in patients with psoriasis

Psoriasis is a disease that has a profound impact on all aspects of life quality because over years patients are faced not only with poor health, but also with a number of restrictions imposed by the disease in their professional, social and emotional life. The aim of the study was to assess the level of impairment to the life quality in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis in relation to the clinical status of the disease, disease duration, and age and gender of the examinees. The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Clinic for Skin and Venereal Diseases of the Clinical Center of Niš. The total sample consisted of 142 examinees, 82 in the primary group (patients with psoriasis), and 60 in the control group (healthy volunteers). In order to assess the impact of psoriasis on life quality and compare it to the life quality of healthy population, the DLQI questionnaire (Dermatology Life Quality Index)was used and the disease severity was estimated based on the value of the PASI score (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index). The results showed that the groups of examinees differ appreciably in self-assessment in all five dimensions of life quality. In patients with psoriasis, there was statistically significantly lower life quality as a reflection of the disease severity and subjective perceptions of the disease impact and treatment impact, but also as a result of a number of restrictions in daily functioning caused by the disease. Patients with a severer clinical status gave low ratings to their ability to function in all areas covered by the DLQI questionnaire, especially in the symptoms and feelings subscale. The results of our study indicate the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of patients with psoriasis and the possibility of introducing a supportive therapy, which would, along with a regular dermatological therapy, notably improve the life quality of these patients