title: Clinical differences between early- and late-onset psoriasis in Thai patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is a paucity of data regarding clinical differences between early-onset psoriasis (EOP) and late-onset psoriasis (LOP) in Asian populations. This study aimed to investigate clinical differences between EOP (onset at the age of <40 years) and LOP (onset at the age of ≥40 years) in Thai patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2002 until 2008, staff and residents in the Department of Dermatology, Siriraj Hospital, were asked to complete a questionnaire detailing the age of onset, family history of psoriasis, comorbid diseases, clinical features, nail and joint involvement, and severity of psoriasis in all psoriasis patients. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-squared tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1017 patients were enrolled. Of these, 663 (65.2%) patients had EOP and 354 (34.8%) had LOP. The mean ± standard deviation age of onset was 24.8 ± 8.7 years in the EOP group and 51.6 ± 9.6 years in the LOP group. The two most common comorbid diseases were hypertension and diabetes mellitus in both groups. Patients with EOP had a significantly higher likelihood of both a family history of disease and guttate psoriasis. Palmoplantar psoriasis was more commonly found in LOP patients. Nail and joint involvement and disease severity were not associated significantly with age of onset.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study supports the hypothesis that there are clinical differences between EOP and LOP in Asian populations.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors: Leena
authors: L
authors: Chularojanamontri
authors: Kanokvalai
authors: K
authors: Kulthanan
authors: Puan
authors: P
authors: Suthipinittharm
authors: Sukhum
authors: S
authors: Jiamton
authors: Chanisada
authors: C
authors: Wongpraparut
authors: Narumol
authors: N
authors: Silpa-Archa
authors: Papapit
authors: P
authors: Tuchinda
authors: Wararat
authors: W
authors: Sirikuddta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000453:epidemiology; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D015897:Comorbidity; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails; D010641:Phenotype; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult