Impact of Childhood Onset Psoriasis on Addictive Behaviours, Socioeconomic and Educational Data in Adulthood

Abstract

Paediatric psoriasis has been associated with school absenteeism, limitation of physical activities, psychiatric disorders and, in the longer term, with sexual dysfunction and addictions. This raises the hypothesis that childhood onset psoriasis may affect patients’ educational development, and further social and professional outcomes. This study evaluated the relationship between childhood onset psoriasis and patients’ educational and socioeconomic characteristics, and the development of addictions in adulthood. This cross-sectional ancillary study captured patients’ characteristics at baseline in the French PSOBIOTEQ registry. Data in adulthood included: educational (baccalaureate) and socioeconomic (working activity) groups, smoking status (self-reporting of being a current smoker vs past smoker or non-smoker), alcohol consumption (defined as at least 1 glass of alcoholic beverage per day), and living conditions (alone/family/social institutions; child at home). A total of 1,960 patients were included, of whom 26.2% had childhood onset psoriasis. In multivariate analyses, childhood onset psoriasis was associated with smoker status (p = 0.02). No association was observed with educational level, working activity, living conditions, or alcohol consumption. This study provides reassuring data overall with regard to the impact of childhood onset psoriasis on major social outcomes. Evidence for some association with addictive behaviours paves the way for larger prospective studies assessing in depth the social and educational impact of this disease.