Demographic and Clinical Factors Associated with Patient-Reported Remission in Psoriasis

Achievement of remission in psoriasis is a key goal for patients and providers, yet definitions of remission may vary. Some treat-to-target initiatives in psoriasis have focused on degree of skin involvement, while others have also incorporated quality of life (QoL) measures. The goal of this study is to identify factors associated with patient-reported psoriasis remission.

The National Psoriasis Foundation conducted a survey of a random stratified sample of 1570 individuals with psoriatic disease in the USA. The survey contained questions regarding provider diagnosis of psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis, as well as comorbid conditions and participant demographics. Psoriasis severity was assessed using the Patient Report of Extent of Psoriasis Involvement (PREPI), a validated self-reported measure of body surface area (BSA). Dermatologic-related quality of life was assessed using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Individuals reporting BSA ≤ 3% were asked if they believed their psoriasis was in remission. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with remission.

Of 930 participants reporting BSA ≤ 3%, 479 (51.7%) believed their psoriasis was in remission, with an average remission duration of 31 months. Of those in remission, 79.1% reported current treatment. Multivariate regression revealed that psoriasis remission was independently associated with female sex, lower BSA, less impairment in the Dermatology Life Quality Index and global QoL, biologic use, and concomitant diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis. There was no association with age, race, body mass index, or number of comorbidities.

Overall, patient perception of psoriasis remission was not solely associated with BSA, but also with sex, quality of life, and treatment type.