Key clinical point: Most patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) experienced mildly severe psoriasis, but it had an impact on their health-related quality of life (HRQoL) when assessed using a dermatology-specific HRQoL questionnaire (Skindex-17).
Major finding: The majority of patients (71%) had mild psoriasis and remained in this category at 12 months of follow-up. Psoriasis severity did not fluctuate much during the first year with the proportion of patients without psoriasis increasing from 17% at baseline to 34% and those with severe psoriasis remaining stable with 3% at baseline and 2% at 12 months. Psoriasis Area Severity Index score was significantly associated with a psychosocial subscale of Skindex-17 at baseline (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.08) and 12 months (IRR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.05-1.15).
Study details: Findings are from a Dutch cohort including 644 patients with newly diagnosed PsA who were followed up for 1 year.
Disclosures: The study received no specific funding. The authors declared no conflict of interests.
Source: Kasiem FR et al. Rheumatology. 2021 Jul 24. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keab606 .