A clinical appraisal of adult psoriasis patients in Serdang Hospital

ABSTRACT

Objectives To determine the socio-demographic profile, clinical characteristics and quality of life of adult psoriasis patients as well as the association between the first two variables with the latter. Methods A cross-sectional study of 30 adult psoriasis patients was conducted in the Dermatology Clinic, Serdang Hospital from 9th to 23rd May 2011. A questionnaire regarding clinical data containing multilingual Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) was used in a face-to-face interview. Results Male-to-female ratio was 11.5. Psoriasis was more common in Malays (76.7%) compared to Chinese (10%) and Indians (10%), however this ethnic distribution was proportionate to that of the clinic attendance. The onset of psoriasis was during the second to third decade of life in most patients (53.3%) with a mean of 31 years (range 7 - 62). Nine (30%) patients had positive family history of psoriasis. The main aggravating factors were stress and sunlight. Hyperlipidemia was the commonest associated co-morbidity. Plaque psoriasis was the commonest clinical type (66.7%) and majority (66.7%) had <10% body surface area affected. Nail changes were present in 15 (50%) patients and psoriatic arthropathy occurred in 11 (36.7%), with mono/oligoarticular type being as common as symmetrical polyarthropathy. All patients were treated with topical therapy, six were on systemic medication and only one underwent phototherapy. The mean DLQI score was 10.77 ± 6.22. The duration of disease and the age group were negatively correlated with the DLQI scores (r= -0.45 and -0.42 respectively, p < 0.05). Conclusion The clinical findings are similar to previous local studies and are valuable to improve patient care.