Yonit Wohl1, Jacob Mashiah2, Ana Kutz2, Smail Hadj-Rabia3, Arnon D Cohen4. 1. Dermatology Service, Barzilai University Medical Center, Ashkelon 78278 Israel, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. 2. Pediatric Dermatology Unit, Department of Dermatology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, 6 Weizmann Street, Tel Aviv 64239, Israel. 3. Department of Dermatology; Centre national de référence des maladies génétiques à expression cutanée (Magec), hôpital universitaire Necker-Enfants Malades; APHP; université Paris Descartes - Sorbonne Paris Cité; Institut Imagine, Paris, France. 4. Siaal Research Center for Family Medicine and Primary Care, Ben -Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel, Research and Health Planning Department, Clalit Health Services, Tel Aviv 6209804 Israel.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: While quality of life can be significantly affected in pemphigus patients, few studies have systematically investigated the co-morbidity of psychiatric disorders in these patients. OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between pemphigus and depression comorbidity, using the computerized medical database of Israel's largest health maintenance organization. METHODS: In a case-control study, co-morbidities of adult pemphigus patients retrieved from the database of a large healthcare organization from 1998 to 2010 were compared with age- and gender-matched controls from the same database. The main outcome measure was the prevalence of co-morbid psychiatric disorders (anxiety, psychosis, schizophrenia and depression) in pemphigus patients and controls. The study included 255 pemphigus patients (157 women (62%) and 98 (38%) men) and 509 controls (313 women (62%) and 196 (38%) men) aged 20 years and older (a ratio of 3:2 in both groups). Mean age was 63.5 ± 15.7 years in the pemphigus group and 63.2 ± 15.7 years in the control group. RESULTS: Depression was the only psychiatric disorder significantly increased among pemphigus patients compared with controls. Alcohol abuse and smoking did not differ between groups. Depression was over-represented in a large population of pemphigus patients, indicating the disorder as a possible significant co-morbidity. After controlling for confounders including age, gender, and duration of corticosteroid therapy, the association with depression persisted (OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.12-1.27), p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The increased prevalence of depressive morbidity, especially in the presence of commonly prescribed corticosteroid treatment, emphasizes the need for psychiatric assessment and intervention in these patients.
BACKGROUND: While quality of life can be significantly affected in pemphigus patients, few studies have systematically investigated the co-morbidity of psychiatric disorders in these patients. OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between pemphigus and depression comorbidity, using the computerized medical database of Israel's largest health maintenance organization. METHODS: In a case-control study, co-morbidities of adult pemphigus patients retrieved from the database of a large healthcare organization from 1998 to 2010 were compared with age- and gender-matched controls from the same database. The main outcome measure was the prevalence of co-morbid psychiatric disorders (anxiety, psychosis, schizophrenia and depression) in pemphigus patients and controls. The study included 255 pemphigus patients (157 women (62%) and 98 (38%) men) and 509 controls (313 women (62%) and 196 (38%) men) aged 20 years and older (a ratio of 3:2 in both groups). Mean age was 63.5 ± 15.7 years in the pemphigus group and 63.2 ± 15.7 years in the control group. RESULTS:Depression was the only psychiatric disorder significantly increased among pemphigus patients compared with controls. Alcoholabuse and smoking did not differ between groups. Depression was over-represented in a large population of pemphigus patients, indicating the disorder as a possible significant co-morbidity. After controlling for confounders including age, gender, and duration of corticosteroid therapy, the association with depression persisted (OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.12-1.27), p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The increased prevalence of depressive morbidity, especially in the presence of commonly prescribed corticosteroid treatment, emphasizes the need for psychiatric assessment and intervention in these patients.
Authors: Alex M Rokni; Marissa Ayasse; Adnan Ahmed; Lauren Guggina; Robert W Kantor; Jonathan I Silverberg Journal: Arch Dermatol Res Date: 2022-03-09 Impact factor: 3.017