The impact of psoriasis on the quality of life of patients from the 16-center PUVA follow-up cohort.
BACKGROUND
The impact of psoriasis on the quality of life of patients is likely to be principally related to alterations in individual appearance and consequent psychosocial disability. Quantifying the impact of psoriasis and related changes from therapy would help in the selection of optimal management.


OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to evaluate the impact of psoriasis on patients with severe disease who have had photochemotherapy (PUVA).


METHODS
In 1979 we interviewed 877 of 988 still participating patients who were enrolled in 15 of 16 centers in the PUVA Follow-up Study. We determined the impact of psoriasis on quality of life with a questionnaire that had been modified to incorporate measures of impairment that are likely to be affected by cutaneous disease.


RESULTS
Psoriasis had substantial impact on the quality of life. Women were more likely than men to report impairment in quality of life dimensions. The impact of disease decreased with increasing age. Moderate to high relative impact on total quality of life was more often reported by patients who had recently used UVB phototherapy than by those using PUVA or methotrexate.


CONCLUSIONS
Psoriasis has a substantial impact on the quality of life. This impact seems to decrease with increasing age. Use of specific treatments are also associated with the extent to which psoriasis affects quality of life.
McKenna
K E
KE
Department of Dermatology, Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Stern
R S
RS
D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011701:PUVA Therapy; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy