Dermatology Life Quality Index and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index Correlations in Patients With Psoriasis

According to a study published in Acta Dermato-Venereologica, there are correlations between Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) among patients in all included geographic regions with psoriasis.

Researchers aimed to compare the correlation between the PASI and the DLQI in patients with psoriasis across different geographic regions and to identify predictors of high DLQI scores. A total of 1158 patients with psoriasis were included, with median PASI and DLQI scores of 6.0 and 8.0, respectively.

Correlations between PASI and DLQI were observed across all geographic regions, indicating a relationship between disease severity and quality of life impairment. Quantile regression analysis further revealed varying coefficients for different regions, with Switzerland exhibiting the highest coefficient (0.75) followed by Latin America (0.50), Asia (0.34), and the United States (0.31). These findings suggest that the impact of psoriasis severity on quality of life may vary geographically.

Additionally, the study identified predictors of high DLQI scores, which differed among regions. In Latin America, factors such as current age, age at diagnosis, sex, body mass index, and psoriatic arthritis influenced DLQI, whereas in Switzerland, education level had an impact. This highlights the importance of considering regional differences and sociodemographic factors when assessing quality of life in psoriasis patients.

“The patients' characteristics affecting DLQI vary worldwide,” the authors concluded.

Reference
Maul JT, Maul LW, Didaskalu JA, et al. Correlation between Dermatology Life Quality Index and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index in patients with psoriasis: a cross-sectional global healthcare study on psoriasis. Acta Derm Venereol. Published online March 12, 2024. doi:10.2340/actadv.v104.20329