Abstract :
Background: Psoriasis can have a profound impact on a patient quality of life. The measurement of disease
severity and its impact on patient’s quality of life is being neglected in Indian population.
Objective: This study was conducted to assess the clinical severity as well as physical and psychosocial
disability and to analyze their interrelationship in psoriasis patients.
Materials and Methods: Clinical severity and quality of life were measured using psoriasis area severity
index (PASI), psoriasis disability index (PDI), and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) respectively,
the latter two of which were suitably modified and translated into the local language, viz., Gujarati.
Appropriate tests were conducted using STATA(14.2).
Results: The study enrolled 120 patients consisting of 72 males(60%) and 48 females(40%). The
commonest age group affected was 41-60years (55%). The mean DLQI, PDI and PASI were 14.45
(SD=9.42), 21.62(SD=14.21) and 12.79(SD=9.79) respectively. DLQI and PDI showed statistically
significant association with sex and area of residence while age, progression of disease, occupation and
duration of disease had no effect on quality of life. Study showed positive correlation between DLQI
and PASI (r=0.9650 respectively, p=0.001) and PDI and PASI (r=0.9666.p=0.001). Questions related to
symptoms and feelings most commonly affected in DLQI while questions related to daily activities most
commonly affected in PDI.
Conclusion: The present study shows that psoriasis affects the quality of life and has a positive correlation
with the severity of the disease.
Keyword :
Psoriasis, Quality of life, Psoriasis area and severity index, Psoriasis disability index, Dermatology life quality index.