Sociodemographic variables, health-related behaviors, and disease characteristics in patients with psoriasis

Background
Psoriasis is an inflammatory disease characterized by accelerated proliferation and abnormal keratosis of the epidermis cells. It is influenced by environmental and lifestyle factors, including health-related behaviors.

Objectives
The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the frequency of health-related behaviors and their links with disease characteristics and sociodemographic variables in patients with psoriasis.

Material and methods
The study involved 211 patients treated for psoriasis from 3 centers in Poland. Diagnosis of psoriasis type was done by a dermatologist. A structured questionnaire about sociodemographic variables, course of psoriasis and health-related behaviors was conducted with each subject.

Results
Most of the subjects spent less than half an hour a day on physical activity (mainly walking and cycling). More than half did not follow the recommended diet. About one third of the patients declared smoking, and the mean BMI was in the overweight category. It was also found that sociodemographic variables differentiated the group in terms of health behaviors. Relationships were found between health-related behaviors such as smoking and some clinical features of psoriasis.

Conclusions
The frequency of favorable health-related behaviors among psoriasis patients is unsatisfactory, and some of them may exert a significant impact on the course and treatment effects of psoriasis.