title: The Relationship between Disease, Work and Sickness Absence among Psoriasis Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of absenteeism in patients with psoriasis and determine the factors influencing the incidence of absenteeism in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study from December 2012 to November of 2013 was conducted on 192 psoriasis patients referred to the Dermatology Clinic of Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran. The number day of absence from work due to psoriasis in the last year was asked from the patients; the absence of 7 days has been considered as short-term and more than 7 days as long-term. Logistic regression was used to data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sickness absence in 21.4% of patients was positive. The average numbers of days of absence were 10.25 and the duration of absence from work in 48.7% were long-term ≥7 days. 51.3% had short-term absence (<7 days). Among disease factors: moderate to severe disease (SAPASI score >10), palms and soles involvement, joint problems and radiation therapy and among job factors: hazardous physical and chemical exposures in the workplace, non-office work, disability, exacerbations of disease on work days and problem on employment were associated with high incidence of sickness absence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psoriasis with its chronic and recurrent nature especially in higher severities causes disabilities that deeply affect Work performance and can decrease the efficiency. In better management of psoriasis patients, physicians should pay special attention to occupational factors.
authors.affiliation: Skin and Stem Cell Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Parvin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mansouri
authors.affiliation: Dept of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran.
authors.forename: Fateme
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Valirad
authors.affiliation: Dept of Occupational Medicine, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran and Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: Mirsaeed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Attarchi
authors.affiliation: Dept of Occupational Medicine, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Saber
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.affiliation: Dept of Occupational Medicine, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shiva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hatami
authors.affiliation: Dept of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Farzin
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Mircheraghi
authors.affiliation: Skin and Stem Cell Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammadreza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahbar
authors.affiliation: Skin and Stem Cell Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chalangari
keywords: Occupational stress; Psoriasis patients; SAPASI; Sickness absence