Postal questionnaire study of disability in the community associated with psoriasis.
OBJECTIVE
To study the disability caused by psoriasis in patients recorded as having psoriasis by their general practitioner.


METHODS
Postal questionnaire survey using the psoriasis disability index and SF-36.


METHODS
Five general practices in Cleveland.


METHODS
Of 767 patients identified, 546 completed the questionnaire and 435 were eligible and gave informed consent.


METHODS
Scores on SF-36 and psoriasis disability index.


RESULTS
The psoriasis disability index score was highly negatively correlated with all eight of the SF-36 health measures (P < 0.0001 for each), and the manual social classes scored higher than the non-manual social classes (P < 0.0001). The manual social class group scored significantly lower scores than the controls on all the SF-36 scales, and the non-manual group scored significantly lower for physical and mental role limitation (P < 0.0004 and P = 0.026), mental health (P < 0.0001), energy and vitality (P < 0.0004), and health perception (P < 0.0001). Also, the manual group had poorer health perception on five of the SF-36 variables when compared with the non-manual group.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with psoriasis have an overall lower perception of their quality of life than healthy controls, and those in the lower social classes suffer a greater degree of disability from their disease than the higher social classes.
O'Neill
P
P
Norton Medical Centre, Stockton on Tees.
Kelly
P
P
D001294:Attitude to Health; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires