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. 2019 Mar 20;9(3):e028116.
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-028116.

Prevalence and characteristics of psoriasis in Denmark: findings from the Danish skin cohort

Alexander Egeberg  1 , Yuki M F Andersen  1 , Jacob P Thyssen  1
Affiliations

Prevalence and characteristics of psoriasis in Denmark: findings from the Danish skin cohort

Alexander Egeberg et al. BMJ Open. .

Abstract

Background: Wide-ranging psoriasis prevalence estimates have been reported, possibly due to methodological differences.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of psoriasis in Denmark and to validate the use of questionnaire-based data to identify patients with psoriasis.

Methods: We used data from the Danish Skin Cohort, a prospective cohort comprising general population adults, as well as patients with dermatologist-verified psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, respectively. The general population cohort was interviewed to assess the psoriasis prevalence in Denmark, and validation of the questions was performed.

Results: From 3490 general population participants, 7.9% (n=275) were found to have self-reported psoriasis. Of these, 221 (prevalence 6.3%) had their disease diagnosed by a physician (the dermatologist-diagnosed prevalence was 4.3%), whereas 54 (prevalence 1.6%) were not diagnosed by a physician. A total of 176 (5%) had active psoriasis within the last 12 months. More than half of patients had at least one disease flare in the last 12 months, and 44.4% of patients with psoriasis had at least one family member with psoriasis, whereas this was only the case for 13.7% of non-psoriasis individuals. Validation of the psoriasis diagnosis yielded a high sensitivity and specificity, with little incremental value of limiting diagnoses to those diagnosed by a physician.

Conclusion: The lifetime-prevalence of self-reported psoriasis was found to be 7.9%, whereas the 1-year prevalence (ie, currently active psoriasis) was 5.0%. If used appropriately, questionnaire-based data may accurately identify patients with psoriasis.

Keywords: epidemiology; nationwide; prevalence; psoriasis; validation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Prevalence of psoriasis in Denmark. Data were drawn from Sample A, that is, a general population sample of 3490 Danish adults.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Sex-specific prevalence of psoriasis in Denmark. Data were drawn from Sample A, that is, a general population sample of 3490 Danish adults.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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