The Correlation Between Changes in Psoriasis Severity Score and Quality of Life Before and After Treatment in Psoriasis Vulgaris Patients

Abstract

Background: Psoriasis not only causes physical comorbidities but also leads to psychological problems in patients. The severity of the disease is believed to be related to the patient's quality of life. However, research on the relationship between PASI and DLQI often shows inconsistent results. Evaluation of changes in PASI and DLQI scores is expected to provide an overview of the relationship between changes in disease severity and improvements in the patient's quality of life after therapy. Objective: We aimed to evaluate the relationship between changes in PASI and DLQI score in patients with psoriasis vulgaris at Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Dr. Soetomo General Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia. Methods: This was a retrospective study with a cross-sectional approach. This research included a total of 50 newly diagnosed psoriasis vulgaris patients who met the inclusion criteria and received treatment from January 2021 to July 2022. Results: A significant correlation was found between PASI and DLQI scores prior to treatment (p=0.001; r=0.483).  A marked improvement was observed in both PASI and DLQI scores after treatment (p=0.001; p=0.001 respectively). However, no significant correlation was observed between PASI and DLQI scores after treatment (p=0.209), nor was there a significant correlation between changes in disease severity (ΔPASI) and QoL (ΔDLQI) following therapy (p=0.120). Conclusion: Improvements in disease severity for psoriasis vulgaris do not consistently translate into better quality of life for patients. Therefore, regular QoL evaluations and psychological support are essential for all patients, regardless of the degree of severity and the changes of PASI score.