Predictors of Quality of Life in Psoriasis Patients: Insights from a Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Background: Psoriasis significantly impacts patients' mental health and social relationships, often leading to feelings of stigmatization and shame due to the visibility of skin lesions. This study aimed to identify factors influencing the quality of life in patients with psoriasis.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2018 to December 2020, involving 100 patients treated for psoriasis. The research utilized the WHO Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQoL-Bref), the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). The analysis included demographic, clinical, and psychological variables to evaluate their impact on quality of life.

Results: The multivariate linear regression model revealed that significant independent predictors of quality of life included age (p=0.001), duration of disease (p=0.004), and nutritional status (p=0.002). In the physical domain, factors such as phototherapy (r=2.46) and anxiety levels assessed by the HADS anxiety subscale (r=-0.23) were particularly relevant. In the psychological domain, the presence of psoriatic arthritis (r=1.978), hand and foot psoriasis (r=2.34), and scores on the HADS anxiety (r=-0.212) and depression subscales (r=-0.226) were significant. Male gender (r=1.632) and depressive symptoms (r=-0.352) impacted the social domain. In the environmental domain, predictors included erythrodermic psoriasis (r=1.98), hand and foot psoriasis (r=2.312), phototherapy (r=1.877), PASI score (r=-0.04), and depression as measured by HADS (r=-0.228).

Conclusion: The primary predictors of quality of life in patients with psoriasis are the type of psoriasis, the presence of anxiety and depressive disorders, and treatment with phototherapy. However, the study's single-center design and relatively small sample size may limit the generalizability of the findings. Further multi-center studies are needed to confirm these results and broaden their applicability.