Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis - a global problem of our time

Every year, October 29 is World Psoriasis Day.

According to a global survey of more than 8,000 people conducted in 2016, psoriasis greatly affects the quality of life of patients, negatively affects the possibility of professional self-realization, social communications, and causes significant psychological discomfort. To remind scientists, doctors and the public about the severity of this problem, World Psoriasis Day is held annually on October 29.
Today, scientists do not have a clear answer about the nature of this most common skin disease, but most researchers are inclined to the hypothesis of the autoimmune origin of psoriasis. It affects about 125 million people on the planet, or up to 4-6% of the population of developed countries. The main symptom of psoriasis is the formation of characteristic plaques on the skin - dense volume lesions that cause severe itching, pain and significantly impair the quality of life in general. Patients with psoriasis more often than others suffer from various chronic diseases, primarily the gastrointestinal tract and the cardiovascular system. In addition, approximately 30% of patients develop psoriatic arthritis, a severe inflammatory joint disease that limits human mobility and often leads to disability.
To assess the impact of psoriasis on quality of life, in 2016, Novartis together with GfK conducted a global survey of more than 8,000 patients from 32 countries. The Russians also became its participants. The survey organizers aimed to look at the problem of psoriasis through the eyes of the patients themselves. It turned out that the disease has an extremely negative effect on almost all spheres of human life. 88% of respondents noted that they lack the opportunity for full-fledged professional development, they feel isolated from society, family life suffers. Against the background of these processes, the feeling of constant stress and anxiety simultaneously increase; people with psoriasis are prone to depression due to their illness.

Watch the video: At Risk. Psoriatic Arthritis: An Unwanted Partnership. MedscapeTV (December 2024).