Psoriasis in patients older than 65 years. A comparative study with younger adult psoriatic patients.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the clinical characteristics of psoriasis, prevalence of comorbidities and quality of life in psoriasis patients older than 65 years and to compare them with younger adult psoriatic patients.


METHODS
Prospective observational study of prevalence.


METHODS
Patients older than 18 years with diagnosis of psoriasis attended at the Dermatology Department of the University Hospital of A Coruña (Galicia, Spain). A total of 371 patients were included (218 males and 153 females) with ages ranging from 18 to 85 years, of whom 70 were older than 65 years.


METHODS
Demographic data, clinical characteristics and psoriasis treatment, history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking and alcohol consumption and quality of life impairment were registered. Body mass index, waist-hip ratio, left ventricular hypertrophy, average value of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose blood levels were also measured.


RESULTS
Patients older than 65 years have statistically significant higher prevalence of hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, waist-hip ratio, diabetes mellitus and raised blood glucose levels. There was also association between clinical severity of psoriasis and smoking and alcohol intake as well as between quality of life and type of psoriasis treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Psoriasis in patients older than 65 years represents a significant proportion of cases and its prevalence is expected to increase. Because these patients are more prone to suffer comorbidities and to develop adverse effects due to psoriasis treatment, attention to pharmacologic interactions and correction of cardiovascular risk factors and toxic habits should be especially taken in mind in this age group.
Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of La Coruña, La Coruña, Spain.
R M
RM
Fernandez-Torres
S
S
Paradela
E
E
Fonseca
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D015897:Comorbidity; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult