Abstract:
Chronic plaque psoriasis (CPP) is an inflammatory skin disease with considerable negative
impact on quality of life (QoL). This study investigated the sociodemographic and disease
characteristics associated with QoL of patients with CPP. A cross-sectional study was
conducted among 297 patients, aged >18 years attending dermatology clinics of Teaching
Hospital Karapitiya, General Hospitals Matara and Hambantota. The QoL was assessed by
generic and disease specific tools; Sinhala validated versions of Dermatology Life Quality Index
(DLQI) and Psoriasis Disability Index (PDI), respectively. Median age (IQR) of study subjects
was 55 (42-63) years and 57.6% were males. Nearly 80% had completed secondary school and
46% belonged to the Social class 4. Median psoriasis area severity index (PASI) and the body
surface area (BSA) were 4.8 (2.8-10.2) and 9% (4.5-21). According to DLQI, 8% had no
impairment of QOL while 57%, 24% and 11% reported mild, moderate and severe impairment
of the QoL, respectively. Median PDI score was 6 (3-10) BSA and PASI showed a significant
positive correlation with DLQI and PDI (spearman rho BSA_DLQI 0.240, PASI_DLQI 0.183,
BSA_PDI 0.32, PASI_PDI 0.31, p<0.01) while age was negatively correlated (spearman rho
Age_DLQI -0.26, Age_PDI -0.25, p<0.01) with both DLQI and PDI. Men compared to women,
and those with the involvement of head and neck region compared to those without, had greater
impairment of QoL. There was no association between the duration of the disease and the QoL.
In patients with CPP, greater skin involvement, male gender, head and neck involvement and
being young are associated with poor QoL determined by both generic and disease specific
tools.
