Psoriasis comorbidities in Germany: A population-based study on spatiotemporal variations.

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Psoriasis significantly impacts patient health and quality of life.
• Comorbidities frequently co-occur with psoriasis, but their regional influence on prevalence is unclear.
• Understanding these associations is crucial for comprehensive patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the temporal and regional variations of psoriasis comorbidities in Germany.
• To analyze the association between psoriasis prevalence and comorbidities: diabetes mellitus type II, obesity, hypertension, and affective disorders.
• To identify spatial clusters and regional patterns of these conditions.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of ambulatory claims data (2010-2017) from statutory health insurance in Germany (approx. 70.3 million individuals).
• Determination of comorbidity rates at the county level.
• Descriptive spatiotemporal analyses, spatial cluster identification, and regional variation examination using spatial statistics.

Main Results:

• Significant regional variations in psoriasis prevalence were observed, with a northeast to south gradient.
• Psoriasis prevalence increased during the study period, reaching a maximum of 28.8%.
• Diabetes mellitus type II, obesity, and hypertension exhibited similar spatial prevalence patterns to psoriasis, indicating higher co-occurrence in high-prevalence psoriasis areas. Affective disorders showed different spatial patterns.

Conclusions:

• This study presents the first spatiotemporal association between psoriasis prevalence and its comorbidities in Germany.
• The findings highlight distinct geographical patterns for psoriasis and its associated conditions, with notable exceptions like affective disorders.
• Further research into causalities is necessary to develop improved healthcare strategies for psoriasis patients.