Patients with psoriasis have insufficient knowledge of their risk of atherothrombotic disease and metabolic syndrome

• Published in: Clinical and experimental dermatology Vol. 40; no. 6; pp. 600 - 604
• Main Authors: Skiveren, J., Philipsen, P., Therming, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.08.2015; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Arthritis, Psoriatic - complications; Atherosclerosis - etiology; Depressive Disorder - complications; Diabetes Mellitus - etiology; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Hypertension - complications; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; Male; Metabolic Syndrome - etiology; Methotrexate - therapeutic use; Middle Aged; Obesity - complications; Patient Education as Topic - standards; Psoriasis - complications; Psoriasis - drug therapy; Risk Factors; Thrombosis - etiology; Young Adult
• DOI: 10.1111/ced.12628
• ISSN: 0307-6938

Summary Background Knowledge is crucial to allow patients to increase their level of self‐care. Objectives To examine the extent to which patients with moderate to severe psoriasis feel informed about their disease, to investigate their level of knowledge about psoriasis and the associated risk of atherothrombotic disease and metabolic syndrome, and to assess the importance of the kind of treatment received and of membership of a patients' association. Methods In total, 218 patients with psoriasis (mean age 45.5 years, range 18–83), who were being treated with methotrexate or biological drugs responded to a questionnaire. Results Patients were well informed about their skin disease, but were less well informed about their risk of atherothrombotic disease/metabolic syndrome (visual analogue scale values of 6.91 and 5.15, respectively). Patients' knowledge of the disease was reflected by 74.2–99.1% correct answers (CA). The risk of arthritis elicited 88% CA and of depression 41.7% CA, while the risk of atherothrombotic disease and metabolic syndrome produced only 11.9–15.3% CA. Patients treated with biological drugs had a significantly stronger sense of being more well informed about the risk of disease (P = 0.02) and their risks (P < 0.001) compared with patients treated with methotrexate. Members of a patients' association had significantly more knowledge than nonmembers about the risk of depression (P = 0.01), hypertension (P = 0.001), diabetes mellitus (P = 0.01) and obesity (P = 0.04). Conclusions This study shows that few patients with moderate to severe psoriasis are aware of their increased risk of atherothrombotic disease and metabolic syndrome. This indicates the need for patients to be offered education concerning the risk and prevention of atherothrombotic disease and metabolic syndrome.