Sonja Ständer, Sabine Steinke, Matthias Augustin, Dieter Metze, Karin Loser, Daniel Baeumer, Christian Sieder, Thomas Luger
DOI: 10.2340/00015555-3275

Chronic pruritus is a bothersome symptom in psoriasis vulgaris and can profoundly reduce quality of life (QoL). In this exploratory analysis of the PSORITUS study, the impact of pruritus on QoL in 130 subjects with moderate-to-severe psoriasis was assessed using the ItchyQoL questionnaire. The majority of patients (n = 127) had to scratch their itchy skin regularly, which led to painful skin and frustration (mean ± standard deviation; SD ItchyQoL scores; 4.50 ± 0.56; 3.80 ± 1.09 and 4.20 ± 0.87, respectively). Changes in either temperature or season led to a worsening of itching in most of the patients (n = 126; mean ± SD ItchyQoL score; 3.80 ± 1.02). Many patients felt ashamed (n = 125) or embarrassed (n = 127) due to their itchy skin (mean ± SD ItchyQoL scores; 3.90 ± 1.26 and 3.40 ± 1.19, respectively). The results demonstrated the ItchyQoL questionnaire as a validated tool responsive to treatment for detailed insights into chronic pruritus in patients with psoriasis.

Pruritus is one of the most common and bothersome symptoms of psoriasis and can be of varying intensity affecting 60–90% of patients with psoriasis. Pruritus has a large impact on patients’ quality of life and can significantly alter their psychosocial well-being. For the first time in this exploratory analysis of the PSORITUS study the impact of pruritus on quality of life in patients with psoriasis has been described using the ItchyQoL questionnaire. The results provide detailed insights into the aspects of quality of life impacted by pruritus in psoriasis.

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