Nikolai Loft1, Thao Thi Nguyen2, Lars Erik Kristensen3, Jacob P Thyssen4, Alexander Egeberg5. 1. Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Copenhagen University Hospital-Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark; Copenhagen Research Group for Inflammatory Skin, Copenhagen University Hospital-Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Hellerup, Denmark. Electronic address: nikolai.dyrberg.loft@regionh.dk. 2. Unit of Social Medicine, Frederiksberg Hospital, Frederiksberg, Denmark. 3. The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. 4. Department of Dermatology, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. 5. Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Copenhagen University Hospital-Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Dermatology, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Patients with psoriasis have an impaired quality of life and higher use of analgesics than the general population. Whether such use is due to skin pain or a consequence of joint pain resulting from psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is not clear. OBJECTIVES: To assess symptoms, disease burden, and use of analgesics in patients with psoriasis with and without PsA. METHOD: Symptoms, general health (EurQol 5-dimension and 5-levels), and use of analgesics were assessed in patients with psoriasis and the general population from the Danish Skin Cohort. RESULTS: We included 4016 patients with psoriasis (847 with concomitant PsA) and 3490 reference individuals. For patients with psoriasis having PsA, itch, skin pain, and/or joint pain was associated with worse general health. Use of opioids within 12 months was observed among 9.0% of the general population, 14.2% of patients with psoriasis without PsA, and 22.7% of patients with concomitant PsA. Of the symptoms, only joint pain was associated with use of analgesics (odds ratio, 3.72 (2.69-5.14); P < .0001). LIMITATIONS: Cross-sectional design. CONCLUSION: Patients with psoriasis (especially concomitant PsA) have a higher use of analgesics compared with the general population, which appears to be a result of increased joint pain.
BACKGROUND: Patients with psoriasis have an impaired quality of life and higher use of analgesics than the general population. Whether such use is due to skin pain or a consequence of joint pain resulting from psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is not clear. OBJECTIVES: To assess symptoms, disease burden, and use of analgesics in patients with psoriasis with and without PsA. METHOD: Symptoms, general health (EurQol 5-dimension and 5-levels), and use of analgesics were assessed in patients with psoriasis and the general population from the Danish Skin Cohort. RESULTS: We included 4016 patients with psoriasis (847 with concomitant PsA) and 3490 reference individuals. For patients with psoriasis having PsA, itch, skin pain, and/or joint pain was associated with worse general health. Use of opioids within 12 months was observed among 9.0% of the general population, 14.2% of patients with psoriasis without PsA, and 22.7% of patients with concomitant PsA. Of the symptoms, only joint pain was associated with use of analgesics (odds ratio, 3.72 (2.69-5.14); P < .0001). LIMITATIONS: Cross-sectional design. CONCLUSION: Patients with psoriasis (especially concomitant PsA) have a higher use of analgesics compared with the general population, which appears to be a result of increased joint pain.