Psychosocial Burden of Psoriasis: A Systematic Literature Review of Depression Among Patients with Psoriasis.

Psoriasis is associated with various comorbidities with a notable psychosocial burden. This systematic literature review explores the burden of depression in patients with psoriasis, comparing it with that experienced by patients with other chronic medical conditions. Embase via Ovid, PubMed, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews via Ovid were searched for peer-reviewed studies published in English between January 1, 2016 and December 6, 2021 that reported real-world evidence or observational studies involving at least 100 adults (age ≥ 18 years) with general (unspecified) or plaque psoriasis experiencing symptoms of depression (but not restricted to patients with a clinical diagnosis). Any report of depression or suicidality was eligible for inclusion. Systematic literature reviews reporting depression/suicidality in other chronic medical conditions were also included. Statistical analysis was not performed; the study was descriptive only. A total of 1744 records were identified, and after several defined screenings by two independent reviewers for publication year, relevance, and sample size, 82 publications were included. Psoriasis was significantly associated with depression. The prevalence of depression in patients with psoriasis ranged from 0.2% to 74.6%, with incidence from 4.83 to 91.9 per 1000 person-years. The prevalence of depression was generally higher among patients with more severe psoriasis than those with less severe disease (as determined by Psoriasis Area Severity Index [PASI] scoring system) and was more prevalent among women than men with psoriasis. Depression in psoriasis significantly reduced quality of life, including factors such as sexual dysfunction, sleep difficulties, subjective well-being, and addictions. Comorbid hypertension, hyperlipidemia, psoriatic arthritis, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, and statin use were all associated with increased depression risk in patients with psoriasis. This systematic literature review found that the burden of depression in psoriasis is no lower than in other chronic medical conditions. Greater awareness of the psychological impact of psoriasis would improve care and management, which should incorporate psychological interventions.

Determination of normative bone mineral density values in Filipino women

OBJECTIVE: To obtain reference values of bone mineral density (BMD) for Filipino women in order to make a population-specific diagnosis of osteoporosis.SETTING: Osteoporosis Unit, Joint and Bone Center, Section of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Santo Tomas Hospital, Manila, Philippines. PARTICIPANTS: 442 healthy Filipino women volunteers recruited from the outpatient department, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Clinic of the University of Santo Tomas Hospital and from within the University of Santo Tomas campus. Subjects with known underlying illness or conditions or intake of drugs that predispose to osteoporosis were excluded from the study. INTERVENTION: Bone mineral density (BMD) measurements, expressed in grams per square centimenter of the lumbar spine, non-dominant femur and non-dominant forearm were done in 442 consecutive healthy Filipino women using the LUNAR DPX-IQ machine. RESULTS: Means and standard deviations of BMD measurements at each site were calculated using Kwikstat software Version 3.6, Release 7. Results were grouped in decades to serve as reference per decade. CONCLUSION: BMD of these 442 healthy Filipino women may serve as an initial reference guide for the diagnosis of osteoporosis in Filipino women.

Consensus statements on osteoporosis diagnosis, prevention, and management in the Philippines.

OBJECTIVE: The consensus statements were developed to assist healthcare practitioners in providing optimal care to postmenopausal individuals at risk for osteoporosis and fragility fractures in the local setting. METHODOLOGY: The Technical Review Committee formed by the Osteoporosis Society of the Philippines Foundation Inc. in cooperation with the Philippine Orthopedic Association drafted, retrieved available published evidence, and appraised important issues on osteoporosis and fragility fractures. The Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation instrument was used to appraise published guidelines while a systematic way of validating the quality of evidence and the level of recommendation was done using the GRADE system. A multidisciplinary panel of experts and stakeholders in an en banc meeting conferred and approved the recommendations. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There were five key issues on preventive, seven on diagnostic, nine on therapeutic aspects of osteoporosis with four other surgical concerns on fragility fractures. All were approved by a panel of stakeholders through a majority vote. These statements will best inform the clinicians and the specialists including orthopedic surgeons and general care practitioners on issues of postmenopausal Filipino women at risk for osteoporosis and fragility fractures.