Psoriasis Is Associated With Worse Quality of Life Compared With the Other 12 Skin Diseases: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract Background: Skin diseases impair patients’ quality of life (QoL). Psoriasis is of particular concern because it affects multiple facets of patients’ lives.Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether having psoriasis was associated with the more severe QoL impairment compared with the other 12 skin diseases, based on the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI).Methods: This multicenter observational cross-sectional study was conducted in 9centers in China. Socio-demographic variables and health history were collected with a standardized form questionnaire. QoL was measured by the DLQI. DLQI scores were compared between patients with psoriasis and without psoriasis using univariate analysis. Then multivariate linear regression was used to related QoL to groups (psoriasis vs. non psoriasis), clinical and socio-demographic characteristics.Results: Of 8,339 included dermatological participants, 1,310 (15.7%) had psoriasis, and 7,029 (84.3%) did not. The QoL of patients with psoriasis was lower than that of patients without psoriasis based on the DLQI score (11.20 ± 7.37 vs 8.12 ± 6.26, P < 0.05). The results of multivariate linear regression indicated the same results when adjusting clinical and socio-demographic characteristics.Conclusion: Patients with psoriasis experience more quality of life impairment than patients without psoriasis. More attention should be paid to patients with psoriasis in dermatological health policy decision.