title: What characterizes the severity of psoriasis? Results from an epidemiological study of over 3,300 patients in the Iberian region.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Understanding the epidemiology of moderate-to-severe psoriasis is essential for its management.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the epidemiological characteristics of patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional, observational epidemiological study conducted in Spain and Portugal. Data were collected by 332 dermatologists for >or=10 consecutive presenting patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on body surface area (BSA) and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) criteria, moderate-to-severe psoriasis was confirmed in >or=79.3% of patients (n = 3,320). Preexisting comorbid conditions included psoriatic arthropathy (13%), dyslipidemia (14.1%) and hypertension (20.2%). The mean BSA involvement was 23% (95% confidence interval, CI: 22.2-23.3%), and the mean PASI score was 14.3 (95% CI: 13.9-14.6%). During the 2 years prior to assessment, 97.0% of patients had received topical treatments, whereas 31.3% had not received systemic treatment or phototherapy. The median annual cost of treatment was 825 EUR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Moderate-to-severe psoriasis is accurately diagnosed, but inadequately treated in many patients in Spain and Portugal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitario La Princesa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Amaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Diez
authors.forename: Carlos Ferrandiz
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Foraster
authors.forename: Francisco Vanaclocha
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Sebastián
authors.forename: Luis Lizán
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Tudela
authors.forename: Xavier Badia
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Llach
authors.forename: Guillermo Sellers
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Fernández
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology