Affiliation:
1. Department of Life Sciences University of Santa Cruz do Sul Santa Cruz do Sul Brazil
2. Centre for Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, Division of Pharmacy and Optometry School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, University of Manchester Manchester UK
3. Psoriasis Outpatient Clinic, Hospital Moinhos de Vento Porto Alegre Brazil
4. Centre for Dermatology Research, NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre University of Manchester Manchester UK
5. Department of Dermatology King's College Hospital, King's College London London UK
Abstract
AbstractBackgroundPsoriasis significantly burdens patients' lives, but there is limited data on this in Brazil.MethodsBetween May 2022 and January 2023, we conducted a cross‐sectional online survey of 563 Brazilian residents aged ≥18 years who had been diagnosed with psoriasis. Spearman's correlation (r) was used to test the correlation between self‐assessed disease severity (Simplified Psoriasis Index [saSPI] extent score; range 0 [clear/minor] to 40 [widespread/severe]) and health‐related quality of life (QoL, score of 1 means perfect health) and capability (ICECAP‐A: score of 1 means full capability) measures. Multivariable linear regression was used to identify predictors of QoL and capability. A thematic analysis examined the free‐text responses and identified common themes.ResultsThe mean age of participants was 42.1 ± 12.4 years, and over half had at least one other long‐term condition. The mean QoL score was 0.59 ± 0.25, and the mean capability score was 0.71 ± 0.21. At the time of survey completion, over 80% of respondents reported some level of pain and/or discomfort, and 86% reported feeling anxious and/or depressed. The mean self‐assessed saSPI was 7.8 ± 8.6, which negatively correlated with health‐related QoL (r = −0.49, P < 0.05) and capability (r = −0.44, P < 0.05). Significant predictors of poorer QoL and reduced capability included high saSPI, number of psoriasis flares and comorbidities, female gender, Black ethnicity, and employment status (unemployed, long‐term sick). Frequently reported areas that impacted patients were social stigma/prejudice, powerlessness, lack of education and public awareness, and difficulty obtaining appropriate care/treatment.ConclusionsWe found that the clinical manifestations, severity, and associated comorbidities of psoriasis negatively impacted health‐related QoL and capability, along with feelings of stigmatization and barriers to specialist treatment. This highlights the need for better access to care and awareness of the disease to improve the lives of people living with psoriasis in Brazil.
Funder
LEO Fondet
Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
Janssen Pharmaceutica