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Quality of life and treatment goals in psoriasis from the patient perspective: results of an Austrian cross‐sectional survey
Author(s) -
Wolf Peter,
Weger Wolfgang,
Legat Franz,
Painsi Clemens,
Saxinger Werner,
Müllegger Robert,
Sator Paul,
Ratzinger Gudrun,
Selhofer Sylvia,
Richter Leo,
Salmhofer Wolfgang,
LangeAsschenfeldt Bernhard,
Trautinger Franz,
Mlynek Alexander,
Strohal Robert,
Augustin Matthias,
Quehenberger Franz
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
jddg: journal der deutschen dermatologischen gesellschaft
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.463
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1610-0387
pISSN - 1610-0379
DOI - 10.1111/ddg.13613
Subject(s) - medicine , psoriasis , quality of life (healthcare) , wilcoxon signed rank test , cross sectional study , perspective (graphical) , patient satisfaction , dermatology , young adult , dermatology life quality index , physical therapy , family medicine , surgery , nursing , pathology , artificial intelligence , computer science , mann–whitney u test
Summary Background Patients with psoriasis experience impairment in quality of life. Thus, high‐quality dermatological care is of particular importance. Patients and methods We performed a nationwide cross‐sectional survey in Austria (BQSAustria Psoriasis 2014/2015) with a special focus on quality of life and satisfaction with treatment among psoriasis patients predominantly treated at tertiary care centers. Results Overall, 70.2 % of 1,184 patients reported impaired quality of life (DLQI 2–5: 29.4 %; 6–10: 19.3 %; 11–15: 11.5 %; 16–20: 5.2 % and > 20: 4.9 %) despite treatment over the preceding four weeks (topical treatment in 88.2 % of cases and/or systemic treatment in 38.7 %). On average, none of the 25 defined subjective treatment goals was achieved to a sufficient degree. In particular, 82.2 % of patients continued to have pruritus despite treatment, which was highly significantly associated with a poor general health status over the preceding week (Spearman's rank correlation; p = 1.1e‐45), the extent of body surface area (p = 3.2e‐11) and scalp area (p = 3.2e‐11) affected, as well as pain (p = 2.3e‐22). Treatment with a biologic was significantly correlated with higher patient satisfaction (Wilcoxon‐Test, p = 2.0e‐16). Conclusions Despite dermatological care, the majority of Austrian psoriasis patients continues to experience impaired quality of life; there is potential for improvement in the achievement of treatment goals.