Psycho-social determinants and magnitude of public health problems of psoriasis in Bangladesh

Background: Numerous studies have analyzed the influence of psoriasis on the quality of life and psychological health of patients. 0nly few  studies have addressed the effect of the disease on individuals and cohabitants of psoriatic patients in developing countries, none in Bangladesh.
Objective: To assess the clinical severity, the physical and psychosocial disability and to analyze their interrelationship in psoriasis patients and cohabitants.
Methods: Hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted. The study included patients and cohabitants. The questionnaire was administered to the patient. Their quality of life was measured with the Psoriasis Disability index (PDI) and Family Dermatology Life Quality index (FDLQI), and their psychological state with Psoriasis life stress inventory (PLSI). The clinical severity by psoriasis area severity index (PASI) score. Appropriate test  conducted using SPSS software.
Result: 225 patients (138 males, 87 female) were included in the study. The clinical PASI scores correlated significantly with the over all physical disability PDI (<0.0001), stress incurred PLSI (<0.0001), FDLQI (<0.0001) and individual aspects of the PDI. The higher the PASI index, the higher the PDI, PLSI and FDLQI scores, which indicated greater impact on QOL. Among the physical and psychological factors analyzed, daily activity, employment, leisure and treatment were reported to be affected the most. Relative of female patients worries most.
Conclusion: Psoriasis markedly worsens the global well-being of patients and their cohabitants, who experienced an impairment of their quality of life and higher levels of anxiety and depression.