Hubungan Umur dan Lama Sakit terhadap Derajat Keparahan Penderita Psoriasis (Association of age and duration of illness with psoriasis severity)

Abstract

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by epidermal hyperproliferation and inflammation with scaly erythematous patches appearance. Psoriasis is found worldwide, without gender preference, and affects every age group. Psoriasis impairs quality of life and curative treatment is yet to be found. The aim of this study is to assess the association between age, duration of illness and disease severity of psoriatic patients in Dermato-venereology Department of Dr. Kariadi Hospital, Semarang. Method: Analytic cross-sectional study of psoriatic patients enlisted from 1 January to 31 May 2009. Samples were interviewed for demographic data, duration of illness, and physical examination was performed for diagnostic and to asses the severity of psoriasis with Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score. Inter-variables correlations were statistically tested. Results: Forty two patients were 24 males and 18 females. The age ranged from 23-70 years. Thirty nine (92.86%) had plaque psoriasis. Majority had psoriasis over one year, and 28 (66.67%) had severe psoriasis. There were significant correlations between age and duration of illness, and duration of illness with disease severity. Conclusion: The incidence of psoriasis was almost equal between male and female subjects. Age was positively correlated with duration of illness, and so was duration of illness with disease severity.