TUR-PSO: A cross-sectional, study investigating quality of life and treatment status of psoriasis patients in Turkey

WOS: 000371889000011PubMed ID: 26365805Psoriasis is a common inflammatory disease that has a severe impact on quality of life. There is lack of data regarding epidemiological and clinical features of psoriasis patients in Turkey, a country with a population of 76million. The aim of this study was to define the demographic and clinical characteristics, quality of life and treatment patterns of psoriasis patients in Turkey. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at 40 centers, chosen from geographically diverse locations in Turkey. Patients diagnosed with psoriasis were assessed by investigators who were specialists of dermatology using standardized study questionnaire forms. Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and EuroQol-5 dimension (EQ-5D) forms were also filled out by each patient. 3971 psoriasis patients were included in this study. 24.2% of plaque psoriasis patients had moderate to severe psoriasis (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, 10). Mean DLQI was 7.03 +/- 6.02; quality of life was moderately, severely or very severely affected in 49.2% of patients. The most severely affected component of EQ-5D was anxiety/depression. Among all patients, 22.9% were not receiving any treatment, 39.8% were receiving only topical treatment, 11.5% were on phototherapy, 26.1%, were taking conventional systemic agents and 4.1% were on a biologic treatment. 31.3% of psoriasis patients with moderate to severe disease were treated with only topical agents and only 30.5% of moderate to severe psoriasis patients were receiving systemic therapy. Moderate to severe psoriasis has a considerable impact on quality of life. Treatment in Turkey of patients with moderate to severe psoriasis is insufficient.PfizerPfizerThis study was sponsored by Pfizer, employees of Pfizer contributed to the design of the study, interpretation of the results and development of the manuscript. Editorial assistance with manuscript development was provided by Susanne Gilbert of ACUMED (New York, NY, USA) and was funded by Pfizer. The authors acknowledge the contributions of the investigators: Dr Esra Ozsoy Adisen, Dr Vahide Baysal Akkaya, Dr Aye Esra Koku Aksu, Dr Hamza Aktas, Dr Aynur Akyol, Dr Sema Altun, Dr Ilknur Altunay, Dr Aysegul Altuntas, Dr E. Esra Arpag, Dr Burcak Bozdemir Aral, Dr Safak Arslan, Dr Gokcen Balci, Dr Emel Bulbul Baskan, Dr Cemal Bilac, Dr Ferihan Uslu Bilgin, Dr Ilgul Bilgin, Dr Omer Calka, Dr Burcin Dogan, Dr Tugba Ekmekci, Dr H. Meral Eksioglu, Dr Sevinc Elinc, Dr Mustafa Teoman Erdem, Dr Bema Sanli Erdogan, Dr Ayten Ferahbas, Dr Gonca Gokdemir, Dr Seyma Celik Gulecol, Dr Asli Gulel, Dr Ulas Guvenc, Dr Asli Hapa, Dr Seval Dogruk Kacar, Dr Basak Kandi, Dr Isin Kilic Karaarslan, Dr Yelda Karincaoglu, Dr Aylin Haskok Kazanci, Dr Sevgi Kilic, Dr Yildiz Kilinc, Dr Saliha Can Kirbas, Dr Rafet Koca, Prof. Dr Mukadder Kocak, Dr Selma Korkmaz, Dr Adem Kosklu, Dr Ergun Kusku, Dr Nurdan Seda Kutlu, Dr Hamdi R. Memisoglu, Dr Ahmet Metin, Dr Inci Mevlitoglu, Dr Ozgul Mustu, Dr Tuba Ozceyhan, Dr Mustafa Ozdemir, Dr Ayes Sebnem Ozkan, Dr Serap Ozturkcan, Dr Hatice Ozyigit, Dr Mustafa Turhan Sahin, Dr Muzaffer Sahin, Dr Mehmet Sakman, Dr Sezai Sasmaz, Dr Neslihan Sendur, Doc. Dr Nilgun Senturk, Dr Gamze Serarslan, Dr Engin Sezer, Dr Funda Tas, Dr Nazan Sengun Taslidere, Dr Nergiz Turan, Dr Muge Turkmen, Dr Isin Zehra Uluc, Dr Cahit Yavuz, Dr I. Halil Yavuz, Dr Savas Yayli, Dr Eylem Yilmaz, Dr Yasar Yilmaz, Dr Tulin Yuksel and Dr Ilknur Yorgun

Internalized stigma in psoriasis: A multicenter study

Internalized stigma is the adoption of negative attitudes and stereotypes of the society regarding a person's illness. It causes decreased self-esteem and life-satisfaction, increased depression and suicidality, and difficulty in coping with the illness. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the internalized stigma state of psoriatic patients and to identify the factors influencing internalized stigma. The secondary aim was to identify the correlation of internalized stigma with quality of life and perceived health status. This multicentre, cross-sectional study comprised 1485 patients. There was a significant positive correlation between mean values of Psoriasis Internalized Stigma Scale (PISS) and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, Body Surface Area, Dermatological Life Quality Index and General Health Questionnaire-12 (P < 0.001 in all). Lower percieved health score (P = 0.001), early onset psoriasis (P = 0.016), family history of psoriasis (P = 0.0034), being illiterate (P < 0.001) and lower income level (P < 0.001) were determinants of high PISS scores. Mean PISS values were higher in erythrodermic and generalized pustular psoriasis. Involvement of scalp, face, hand, genitalia and finger nails as well as arthropathic and inverse psoriasis were also related to significantly higher PISS scores (P = 0.001). Our findings imply that psoriatic patients experience high levels of internalized stigma which are associated with psoriasis severity, involvement of visible body parts, genital area, folds or joints, poorer quality of life, negative perceptions of general health and psychological illnesses. Therefore, internalized stigma may be one of the major factors responsible from psychosocial burden of the disease