title: Health-related quality of life in patients with psoriasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that has a significant impact on patients' lives.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study was to assess factors that might influence the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with psoriasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study of 110 outpatients with psoriasis. To assess the HRQoL, The Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) and Skindex-29 were administered. Stressful life events during the last 12 months were assessed with Paykel's Interview for Recent Life Events.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HRQoL was significantly more impaired in older patients, those with age at onset of 40 years or more, who had a positive family history and who experienced stressful life events in the 12 months preceding the interview. Sex and clinical severity were not significantly related to patients' HRQoL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psoriasis patients have poorer HRQoL than the general population. This study supports the decision to use both generic and skin-specific instruments to assess the impact of psoriasis on HRQoL.
authors.affiliation: The Institute of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Universtity of Belgrade, Serbia. slavenka@eunet.rs
authors.forename: Slavenka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jankovic
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raznatovic
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marinkovic
authors.forename: Janko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jankovic
authors.forename: Nikola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kocev
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tomic-Spiric
authors.forename: Nadja
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vasiljevic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054548:Montenegro; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D055771:Serbia; D055815:Young Adult