title: European patient perspectives on the impact of psoriasis: the EUROPSO patient membership survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  EUROPSO (European Federation of Psoriasis Patient Associations) undertook a Europe-wide survey examining quality of life and patients' perspectives on treatment and their disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore patients' perspectives of psoriasis on their lifestyle and well-being and to gain insight into the effectiveness of and satisfaction with currently available therapies for psoriasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-administered questionnaires (n = 50,500) were mailed to members of psoriasis patient associations in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Responses were received from 18,386 patients (36%), of whom 17,990 had psoriasis. Mean age at onset of psoriasis was 30.5 years, 59% of respondents had self-reported moderate to severe psoriasis (3% or greater body surface area involvement) and 30% had been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. The mean Psoriasis Disability Index score was 12.2 (25% of the maximum score), increasing to 21 (44%) in patients with more than 10% body surface area involvement. The greatest impact was on activities of daily living, especially affecting clothing choice, bathing routine and sporting activities. Overall, 77% replied that psoriasis was a problem or a significant problem. While patients were satisfied with the information and care from their dermatologist (40% highly satisfied), available treatment options were less satisfactory, with over 70% reporting only low to moderate satisfaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the largest survey of people with psoriasis in Europe and shows that psoriasis has a profound impact on quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Clinic Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany. louis.dubertret@free.fr
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dubertret
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Mrowietz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ranki
authors.forename: P C M
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: van de Kerkhof
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chimenti
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lotti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schäfer
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents