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Comparative Study
. 2005 Jan;52(1):23-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2004.07.045.

The prevalence of psoriasis in African Americans: results from a population-based study

Joel M Gelfand  1 , Robert S Stern, Tamar Nijsten, Steven R Feldman, John Thomas, Joe Kist, Tara Rolstad, David J Margolis
Affiliations
Comparative Study

The prevalence of psoriasis in African Americans: results from a population-based study

Joel M Gelfand et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005 Jan.

Abstract

Background: Psoriasis is a common disease with substantial effects on quality of life. The prevalence of psoriasis in African Americans has been previously reported as rare. However, there have been no population-based studies to assess the prevalence and burden of psoriasis in African Americans.

Objective: We sought to measure the prevalence and burden of psoriasis in African Americans compared with Caucasians.

Methods: Patients were randomly selected from the United States population and were asked standard demographic questions. Patients who reported a physician diagnosis of psoriasis were asked additional questions related to quality of life.

Results: The total sample included 27,220 individuals of which 21,921 were Caucasian and 2443 were African American. The prevalence of psoriasis was 2.5% in Caucasian patients and was 1.3% in African American patients. African Americans had an approximately 52% reduction in the prevalence of psoriasis compared with Caucasians ( P < .0001). African Americans and Caucasians had similar impacts on quality of life and treatment satisfaction based on single global questions.

Conclusion: Although psoriasis is less common in African Americans than in Caucasians, it is not rare in either demographic and carries a substantial burden in both groups.

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