Time needed for treatment is the major predictor of quality of life in psoriasis.
BACKGROUND
The literature on predictors of health-related quality of life in psoriasis is inconsistent.


OBJECTIVE
To assess potential predictors of quality of life in psoriasis.


METHODS
In a cross-sectional study involving 130 dermatological practices and outpatient clinics, data of 1,210 patients with psoriasis were collected. Quality of life was evaluated using the Dermatology Life Quality Index. Medical history, clinical and sociodemographic characteristics, therapy and health care features were used as independent variables in a backward multiple regression analysis.


RESULTS
Twelve predictors were included in the model explaining 38% of variance in quality of life. The strongest predictor was daily treatment time (beta = 0.30), followed by patient-defined treatment benefit (beta = -0.18), disease severity (beta = 0.19) and treatment satisfaction (beta = -0.16).


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment burden requires special attention when quality of life in psoriasis is to be improved. Since the larger part of variance is left unexplained, further factors predicting quality of life have yet to be detected.
Blome
Christine
C
CVderm - German Center for Health Services Research in Dermatology, University Clinics of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany. c.blome@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Simianer
Stefan
S
Purwins
Sandra
S
Laass
Anna
A
Rustenbach
Stephan Jeff
SJ
Schaefer
Ines
I
Radtke
Marc
M
Augustin
Matthias
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index