Global and Regional Epidemiology of Psoriatic Arthritis in Patients With Psoriasis

A recent study published in the Journal of Autoimmunity comprehensively analyzed global epidemiologic data on psoriatic arthritis (PsA) among patients with psoriasis, spanning 45 years of research.

Researchers conducted a systematic review of 363 studies, which provided the basis for developing a Bayesian hierarchical linear mixed model to estimate age- and sex-specific epidemiologic figures across different countries and regions.

Key findings revealed significant variability in PsA incidence among patients with psoriasis, ranging from 2.31 per 1000 person-years in the United Kingdom to 74.00 per 1000 person-years in several Western European countries. The global prevalence of PsA in patients with psoriasis was estimated at 17.58%, with regional variations from 7.62% in Australasia to 26.59% in North America. The Caribbean and Central Latin America also showed high prevalence rates of 23.14% and 22.81%, respectively.

Across demographics, PsA prevalence was notably higher in adults compared to children (23.93% vs 8.59%) and slightly higher in females than males (19.14% vs 16.01%).

“This study provides valuable insights into the global epidemiology of PsA. It also serves as a useful resource for researchers in areas lacking relevant studies. These findings have important implications for clinicians managing the course of PsA and for health policymakers in resource allocation,” the authors concluded.

Reference
Kang Z, Zhang X, Du Y, Dai SM. Global and regional epidemiology of psoriatic arthritis in patients with psoriasis: a comprehensive systematic analysis and modelling study. J Autoimmun. 2024;145:103202. doi:10.1016/j.jaut.2024.103202