Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of psoriatic patients attended dermatology clinics in Mosul City

Abstract EN

Background : Psoriasis affects 0.5-0.7 % of Iraqi people making it one of the significant dermatological problems.

Despite the extent of this problem, little information regarding its epidemiology is available in this country.

Objectives : To define the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of psoriatic patients attended dermatology clinics in the four major governmental hospitals in Mosul city.

Patients and methods: Study setting : Dermatology clinics in the 4 major governmental hospitals (Al- Jamhouri, Ibn Sina, Al-Salam, and Al- Mosul) in Mosul.

Study design : Cross-sectional study.

Study period : 1st October 2101 to 25th of February 2011.

Participants : Patients with psoriasis of both sexes, and all ages, who attended the dermatological clinics.

Each patient was subjected to detailed history and clinical examination.

Data collection form included various demographic and clinical characteristics.

Results : The sample of the study included 154 patients with psoriasis, comprising 50.6 % males ranging in age from 3-62 years.

The mean age ±SD at presentation was 30.2 ± 15.1 years ; the mean age ±SD at onset was 22.8 ± 12.0 years.

The mean duration of the illness was 7.4 years.

A unimodal distribution curve of age at onset was noticed with a peak at the third decade.

Early onset of psoriasis before 30 years was significantly associated with family history.

Severity of psoriasis was mild in 74 (48.1 %) of cases and it was more severe in elderly with longstanding disease.

Itching and disfigurement were the main complaints especially the young and female patients.

Plaque type (64.9 %) was the most common variant, arms (52.6 %) were the most commonly affected body site, and the scalp (27.9 %) was the most common initial site affected by psoriasis.

Nail involvement was seen in 30 (19.5 %) patients especially fingernails.

Conclusions and recommendation : The study revealed that psoriasis is a heterogeneous disease affecting all ages, genders and socio-economic strata.

Further researches to study the relationship and the impact of these characteristics on the life of sufferers is recommended.