Quality of life in patients with scalp psoriasis

Aim. The aims of this study were to describe the quality of life (QoL) in patients suffering of scalp psoriasis and to assess the impact of the socio-demographic and clinical features of this condition on patients' health-related QoL, using general and specific QoL scales. Methods. This research is a cross-sectional study. The study involved 55 patients attending their first examination at the Dermatology Clinic of Padua University over the course of one year (April 2010-March 2011). The outcome was quality of life analyzed by means Scalpdex and SF-36 questionnaire. Results. The sample's mean Scalpdex score was 43.60 +/- 117.52, while the mean SF-36 score was 68.28 +/- 20.32. The SF-36 identified statistically significant differences between the psoriasis patients and the Italian general population in two domains, i.e. general health (P=0.0075) and emotional role (P=0.0048). The severity of patients' scalp lesions emerged as a factor associated with a reduced QoL in these patients, irrespective of the severity of their disease as a whole. Sex, age, schooling and other socio-demographic factors also characterized patients' perceived QoL. Conclusion. Patients with scalp psoriasis suffered from a lower QoL relating to the highly visible site of their psoriatic lesions. Specific supportive measures should be dedicated to these patients by health care workers.