Health-related quality of life and healthcare resource use in European patients with plaque psoriasis: an association independent of observed disease severity.

Background: Healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) by patients with plaque psoriasis increases with skin lesion severity; however, the relationship between patient quality of life (QoL), which correlates only weakly with clinical severity, and HCRU is less understood.

Aim: To evaluate the relationship between QoL, HCRU and employment in European patients with plaque psoriasis.

Methods: Patients (n = 897) were recruited in five European countries. Data were analysed by group according to the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI): ≤ 10 (better QoL) and > 10 (worse QoL).

Results: Mean numbers of primary dermatologist visits and hospitalizations were significantly higher for patients with DLQI > 10. Likewise, significantly more patients with worse QoL reported employment disadvantages. Significant differences were maintained even after adjusting for age, gender and body surface area affected.

Conclusions: In patients with plaque psoriasis, poorer QoL is associated with increased HCRU, independent of clinical severity. This suggests that QoL, in addition to skin lesion severity, should be considered in predicting the economic burden of disease.