Increasing prevalence of psoriasis in Spain: A population-based study (2018-2022)

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of psoriasis in Spain from 2018 to 2022 and analyze trends by sex and age groups.

We used the Primary Care Clinical Database (BDCAP) to identify individuals coded with psoriasis (S91) during the study period. Population data for calculating rates was obtained from the Primary Care Information System (SIAP). Crude, age- and sex-specific, and standardized prevalence rates were calculated. Joinpoint analysis assessed annual percentage change (APC) in prevalence.

The estimated psoriasis prevalence in Spain in 2022 was 1.9%. Psoriasis prevalence increased substantially by 43.3% (from 692,317 to 991,832 cases) over the study period. We observed a clear increase in both crude and standardized prevalence rates for men (7.2% annual increase) and women (8.3% annual increase) throughout the study period. Men consistently had slightly higher prevalence rates than women. Prevalence increased with age, reaching a peak in the 70-74 age group for men and 60-64 for women, before declining in older age groups.

This study revealed a concerning increase in psoriasis prevalence in Spain, independent of population aging. Increased disease awareness, improved diagnostics, and greater treatment seeking behavior are potential explanations. Further research is needed to explore the underlying causes of this rise and inform public health interventions.