Psoriasis: is it the tip of the iceberg for the quality of life of patients and their families?

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the impact of psoriasis on patients' and their relatives' quality of life (QoL).

Methods: Eighty patients with their accompanying family members were included in the study. For measuring health related QoL (HRQoL) of patients with psoriasis, two questionnaires were used: Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) and EuroQol (EQ-5D). Disease-specific HRQoL was assessed by the Dermatology Life Quality Index. For measuring the quality of life of patients' relatives, a specific questionnaire for dermatological diseases was used (Family Dermatology Life Quality Index, FDLQI).

Results: Of our patients, 88.3% reported that their disease affects in many and different ways their QoL whereas only 11.2% reported that psoriasis does not influence at all their life. Regarding FDLQI, 90% of the participating family members, responded that their relative's psoriasis affected their own QoL.

Conclusions: Psoriasis is a chronic disease that affects in a cumulative way the quality of life of both patients and their close relatives.