Comorbidities in Paediatric Psoriasis: Experience from a Tertiary Care Centre

Psoriasis begins in childhood in around one-third of the cases. There has been conflicting evidence regarding the association of paediatric psoriasis with comorbidities.

The objective of this study was to find out various comorbidities (abnormal body mass index, metabolic syndrome, lipid abnormalities, diabetes mellitus, and raised blood glucose) associated with paediatric psoriasis.

All patients of psoriasis (age <18 years) who visited the Paediatric Psoriasis clinic from January 2017 to September 2021 were recruited in this record-based study.

Records of 100 patients were analysed, with female to male ratio of 1:1. The age group ranged from 11 months to 18 years. The average body surface area involved was 5.43%. The average psoriasis area and severity index was 2.47. Joint involvement was seen in 7% of patients in our study. A total of 52 (52%) patients had abnormal body mass index, out of which 21 patients were overweight and 31 were obese. At least one lipid abnormality was found in 66 (66%) patients. The most common lipid abnormality was decreased high-density lipoprotein, followed by raised total cholesterol, raised total triglycerides and raised low-density lipoprotein. 8 (8%) patients were found to have raised blood glucose levels. Out of which, six had impaired fasting glucose and two were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. 5 (5%) patients were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome.

Paediatric psoriasis is a chronic disfiguring disease and may have profound emotional and psychological effects. There is a lack of studies from India on the prevalence of these comorbidities in paediatric psoriasis. More studies are required from different parts of the world for a better understanding of paediatric psoriasis.