Findings from the survey suggest that certain symptoms of depression could help identify patients vulnerable to both worsening psoriasis symptoms and disease-related quality of life (QoL).
Self-reported data from patients with psoriasis have revealed factors associated with worsened symptoms and quality of life (QoL) amid the COVID-19 lockdown.
Findings from the survey, completed by nearly 300 patients in their early 30s in Lithuania, suggest that certain symptoms of depression could help identify patients vulnerable to both worsening psoriasis symptoms and disease-related quality of life (QoL).
“During the COVID-19 lockdowns, a considerable number of subjects with somatic illnesses may have found it more difficult to access health care services and receive their usual treatment, leading to deterioration of clinical symptoms,” detailed the researchers. “Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown has affected many people with somatic conditions, as well as patients’ psychological wellbeing and quality of life (QoL); individuals with psoriasis were no exception.”
More than half of patients reported having worsening symptoms throughout the lockdown period in 2021, though the researchers noted that data was subjectively collected rather than through objective clinic documentation. The strongest predictor of worsening psoriasis symptoms was a need for changing psoriasis treatment during lockdown, which was associated with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.73 (95% CI, 1.37– 5.44; P = .004). Experiencing a decrease in income also doubled the probability of worsening symptoms (OR = 2.33; 95% CI, 1.30–4.17; P = .004).
Having symptoms of depression, which was present in 43% of patients, impacted severity of symptoms with an OR of 1.10 (95% CI, 1.05–1.14; P < .001). Similarly, QoL was also affected by depression (OR = 1.07; 95% CI 1.02–1.16; P = .008), though the specific symptoms of depression varied between worsening symptoms and QoL. While thoughts of feeling down, depressed, or hopeless were associated with worsening symptoms, suicidal thoughts were associated with impaired QoL.
Having worsening psoriasis symptoms led to impairments in disease-related QoL, which was reported by nearly 1 in 4 (23.6%) patients. The probability of impaired QoL tripled for respondents with worsening symptoms during the lockdown (OR = 3.22; 95% CI, 1.66–6.24; P < .001). Males also faced a significantly higher OR of impaired QoL, with an OR of 3.35 (95% CI, 1.70–6.59; P < .001) compared with females.
“Hopefully, taking our research into consideration, several health and research practices could be implemented. In our study were able to identify specific modifiable and non-modifiable factors related with both psoriasis symptom worsening and impaired QoL in individuals with psoriasis during COVID-19 pandemic,” explained the researchers. “Along with other well-known risk factors (such as alcohol use, smoking, anxiety and alexithymia), the factors we identified could be used for targeted prevention and intervention.”
Reference
Burkauskas J, Slabadiene M, Podlipskyte A, Steibliene V. Factors associated with worsened clinical symptoms of psoriasis and disease-related quality of life during the COVID-19 lockdown: a cross-sectional study. Front Med. Published online January 10, 2023. doi:10.3389/fmed.2022.1027853
Dr Al Benson on Reimbursement for Supportive Care When Treating Patients With Cancer
March 22nd 2024Al Benson, MD, FACP, FACCC, FASCO, medical oncologist at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and associate director of the Robert E. Tillery Comprehensive Cancer Center, discussed findings from a national survey assessing barriers to comprehensive cancer care delivery.
Read More
Navigating Medicare's Part D Subsidy Program to Achieve Value-Based Care
May 26th 2023On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with the lead researcher from a study published in the May 2023 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about the impact of low-income subsidies on the uptake and equitable use of expensive orally administered antimyeloma therapy.
Listen
AHN’s Center for Inclusion Health Personalizing Equitable Care Delivery for Marginalized Communities
February 28th 2023On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Elizabeth Cuevas, MD, division chief of Allegheny Health Network’s (AHN) Center for Inclusion Health, on prevalent health inequities facing marginalized communities and strategies to identify and address these issues.
Listen
FDA Grants Accelerated Approval to Ponatinib Plus Chemotherapy in First-Line Ph+ ALL
March 19th 2024The FDA has granted accelerated approval to ponatinib (Iclusig) plus chemotherapy for the first-line treatment pf Philadelphia chromosome–positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL).
Read More
Brodalumab Is Effective, Safe in Patients With Moderate to Severe Psoriasis
March 18th 2024Posters presented at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting demonstrated both short- and long-term efficacy and safety profiles of brodalumab in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis.
Read More