An Observational Study of 147 Psoriasis Patients: Overweightness and Obesity as a Significant Clinical Factors Correlated with Psoriasis

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Psoriasis is a common, chronic, and immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease recognized to lead to a wide range of comorbid disorders, mainly obesity. The study aimed to evaluate the problem of overweightness and obesity among psoriasis patients in the context of their prevalence and influence on the disease course. Materials and Methods: The study group encompassed 147 adult patients with plaque psoriasis. Results: The prevalences of overweightness (39.46%) and obesity (37.41%) demonstrated in the study showed the strong predisposition of psoriatic patients for abnormal body mass. The vast majority (77%) of subjects with psoriatic arthritis were overweight or obese. The results of the correlation analysis revealed the significant impacts of overweightness and obesity, as defined by the BMI index, on modifying the severity of psoriasis (as assessed by the PASI with a correlation coefficient of R = 0.23, p = 0.016; and BSA values with a correlation coefficient of R = 0.21, p = 0.023), particularly in contrast to patients with a normal body mass. Conclusions: Overweightness and obesity constitute a major health burden among psoriatic patients, influencing the disease course and severity. Enhanced understanding of the phenomenon may directly translate into improving disease management and overall patient care.

Keywords: BMI; BSA; PASI; obesity; psoriasis.

Figure 1

Analysis of the prevalences of normal weight, overweightness, and obesity in regards to the BMI value in the study group: (a) all patients; (b) men; and (c) women.

Figure 2

Analysis of body mass (in regards to the BMI value) among patients with nail psoriasis (p = 0.63).

Figure 3

Analysis of body mass (in regards to the BMI value) among patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (p = 0.83).

Figure 4

Correlation analysis between the BMI index (body mass index) and the PASI index (psoriasis area and severity index) among psoriatic patients with (a) normal weight (BMI < 25.00) (n = 34, Spearman R = −0.018342, and p = 0.917997) and (b) abnormal body weight (BMI ≥ 25.00) (n = 112, Spearman R = 0.23, and p = 0.016).

Figure 5

Correlation analysis between the BMI index (body mass index) and the BSA index (body surface area) among psoriatic patients with (a) normal weight (BMI < 25.00) (n = 34, Spearman R = −0.024086, and p = 0.892444) and (b) abnormal body weight (BMI ≥ 25.00) (n = 113, Spearman R = 0.21, and p = 0.023).

Figure 6

Correlation analysis between the BMI index (body mass index) and the DLQI index (dermatological life quality index) among psoriatic patients with (a) normal weight (BMI < 25.00) (n = 34, Spearman R = 0.309308, and p = 0.075070) and (b) abnormal body weight (BMI ≥ 25.00) (n = 112, Spearman R = 0.09, and p = 0.36).