Researchers have identified several clinical characteristics of psoriasis patients that may increase the risk of developing psoriatic arthritis.
A single-center, retrospective cohort study examined the clinical profiles of psoriasis patients to determine the precursors of psoriatic arthritis (PsA), aiming to bridge the gap between psoriasis management and the identification of psoriatic arthritis risk. The study’s results are published in The Journal of International Medical Research.
Patient Demographics
Researchers analyzed demographic and clinical data for 330 psoriasis patients, among whom, 83 (25%) progressed to develop psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Of those who developed PsA, 38 (45.8%) were Malay, 24 (28.9%) were Chinese, and 21 (25.3%) were Indian.
The average age at PsA diagnosis was 54.2 (±15.8) years, with the development of PsA occurring over a median span of 36 (3.5–114) months. Treatments were grouped into four categories: topical agents, phototherapy, oral medications, and biologics.
Results
Logistic regression analyses were used to determine predictive factors, with a value of p < 0.05 being considered statistically significant. The key predictors identified for the development of PsA included being female (odds ratio [OR] = 3.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.78–6.22), having nail involvement (OR = 5.36, 95% CI 2.50–11.51), experiencing severe psoriasis (OR = 27.41, 95% CI 7.58–99.11), and undergoing oral systemic therapy before the onset of PsA (OR = 4.09, 95% CI 2.04–8.22).
Conclusion
This study's results indicate that psoriasis patients, particularly those who are female, exhibit nail involvement, suffer from severe skin psoriasis, and receive oral systemic treatments for psoriasis, face a higher risk of developing PsA. Enhanced screening protocols for these high-risk groups could facilitate earlier detection and intervention for PsA.
Source:
Loo, W., Tee, Y. C., Han, W. H., Faheem, N. a. A., Yong, S. S., Kwan, Z., Pok, L. S. L., & Yahya, F. (2024). Predictive factors of psoriatic arthritis in a diverse population with psoriasis. Journal of International Medical Research, 52(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/03000605231221014
