Pruritus is not sensorial in psoriasis: the mutual interactions between dermatologic life quality and pruritus

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pruritus may emerge as affective or sensorial in psoriasis patients. It is not known whether the mediating effect of pruritus or disease severity on the quality of life is more pronounced. This study was conducted to determine the mediating effects and interactions between disease severity, pruritus and life quality in psoriasis patients. METHODS: 105 patients with psoriasis vulgaris were included in the study. Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PAST) values, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), and visual analog scales for pruritus of each patient were analyzed by determining the correlations and the mediating interactions between these parameters. RESULTS: There was a moderate correlation between pruritus and DLQI (P=0.0001, r=0,528), a weak correlation between pruritus and PASI (P=0.005, r=0.273) and a moderate correlation between PASI and DLQI. The mediation effects of DLQI to pruritus, PASI to pruritus, PASI to DLQI and pruritus to DLQI were 25%, 0.047%, 22% and 25%, respectively. Also, the mediation effect of PASI plus pruritus to DLQI was 38%. CONCLUSIONS: The most obvious factor for pruritus is the impairment of DLQI rather than PASI in psoriasis patients. The mediating effect of PASI to DLQI increases the pruritus significantly.