Frequency of pruritus and its impact on quality of life in psoriasis: A cross-sectional study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66344/jpad.v36i1.3215Keywords:
Psoriasis, Pruritus, Pruritus, Quality of Life, Severity of illness IndexAbstract
Background Psoriasis represents a long-term inflammatory skin disorder that commonly presents with itching symptoms, significantly impacting patients' daily functioning and well-being. Epidemiological data indicates prevalence rates ranging from 0.1-1.4% among pediatric populations and 0.5-11.4% in adult cohorts. Objective To establish the occurrence rate, severity levels and quality-of-life consequences of pruritus (itch) symptoms in patients with psoriasis. Methods Cross-sectional analysis conducted in Dermatology Unit, Tertiary Care Hospital Gujranwala, from 01.01.2023 to 31.05.2024. A total of 132 patients with psoriasis constituted the study sample. Pruritus intensity was assessed with three validated scales: VAS, NRS and VRS. Disease severity was quantified using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and Quality-of-life impact was measured via the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Data was analyzed using SPSS version 23. Results Among our study participants, 118 individuals (89.4%) experienced itching. Patients with pruritus demonstrated notably elevated median PASI score (7.00) when compared to those without pruritus (3.00) (p=0.001). We identified positive associations between PASI score and pruritus severity (VAS: r=0.788, NRS: r=0.743, p<0.01). Patients experiencing pruritus exhibited considerably higher DLQI values (median 10.0) versus no pruritus participants (median 5.5) (p=0.001). Pruritus was more frequently observed in patients with higher body weight affecting 37 patients (31.35% vs. 7.14%, p=0.02). Cutaneous dryness emerged as the primary exacerbating element in 65 cases (49.2%). Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that pruritus is common in psoriatic patients and shows strong association with disease severity and diminished life quality. Comprehensive management of pruritus, incorporating body mass index considerations and environmental factor identification, remains essential for optimizing patient care outcomes.References
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