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.