Psoriasis in the geriatric population: A retrospective study in Asians

There is a paucity of data focusing on geriatric psoriatic patients. The clinical features were different among those with early-onset psoriasis and elderly-onset psoriasis among the geriatric population. From 2014 to 2018, a total of 290 geriatric psoriatic patients were retrospectively enrolled in our study. They were subclassified into two groups, early-onset (aged <60 years, n = 154) and elderly-onset (aged ≥60 years, n = 136). The characteristics and treatment course of these two groups were reviewed. Psoriasis of the elderly-onset group was generally milder than the early-onset groups (P < 0.05). Less nail involvement and arthritis were noted among the elderly-onset group (P < 0.05). There were four cases of erythrodermic psoriasis in the early-onset group and three cases of palmoplantar psoriasis in the elderly-onset group. Oral medication and biologics for treatment of psoriasis appeared to be safe among the geriatric psoriatic patients. Elderly-onset psoriasis has features which are distinct from early-onset psoriasis and may be a particular subtype, which needs further evaluation.