Prevalence of cutaneous comorbidities in psoriatic patients and their impact on quality of life

Background: In contrast to the evidence for systemic co-morbidities, relatively few studies have examined the prevalence of cutaneous inflammatory co-morbidities in psoriatic patients. Objectives: We conducted an observational multi-site study to measure the prevalence of cutaneous co-morbidities in adult patients with plaque psoriasis and to assess the relative impact on quality of life (QOL). Materials and Methods: Each patient attending one of the study clinics over a period of six months was evaluated to assess the presence of any concomitant skin inflammatory disease other than psoriasis at the time of the visit. Patients were also asked to complete QOL surveys at the initial visit, using DLQI, SF36, Skindex 29, and PDI. Results: A total of 118 study participants (21.1%) had a cutaneous comorbidity. The most common cutaneous comorbidities were rosacea (23 cases; 4.1%) and acne vulgaris (22 cases; 3.9%). Psoriatic patients with co-existing skin diseases had a worse QOL than those without, as evidenced by DLQI, Skindex 29, and PDI scores. Conclusion: Dermatologists should take a global approach to manage psoriatic patients by carefully evaluating the skin for any disorder and providing treatment to achieve “clean” skin.