Incidence of Psoriatic Arthritis higher than previously reported

[Fred]

This study looked at the risk of developing psoriatic arthritis in patients with psoriasis

Quote:

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Objective:
To estimate the incidence of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in patients with psoriasis, and to identify risk factors for its development.

Methods:
The study was designed as a prospective cohort study involving psoriasis patients who did not have a diagnosis of arthritis at the time of study enrollment. Information was collected about lifestyle habits, comorbidities, psoriasis activity, and medications. Patients who developed inflammatory arthritis or spondylitis were classified as having PsA if they fulfilled the criteria of the Classification of Psoriatic Arthritis Study group. The annual incidence of PsA was estimated using an event per person-years analysis. Cox proportional hazards models, involving fixed and time-dependent explanatory variables, were fitted to obtain estimates of the relative risk (RR) of the onset of PsA, determined in multivariate models stratified by sex and controlled for age at onset of psoriasis.

Results:
The data obtained from the 464 patients who were followed up for 8 years were analyzed. A total of 51 patients developed PsA during the 8 years since enrollment. The annual incidence rate of PsA was 2.7 cases (95% confidence interval 2.1–3.6) per 100 psoriasis patients. The following baseline variables were associated with the development of PsA in multivariate analysis: severe psoriasis (RR 5.4, P = 0.006), low level of education (university/college versus high school incomplete RR 0.22, P = 0.005; high school graduate versus high school incomplete RR 0.30, P = 0.049), and use of retinoid medications (RR 3.4, P = 0.02). In multivariate models with time-dependent variables, psoriatic nail pitting (RR 2.5, P = 0.002) and uveitis (RR 31.5, P = 0.0002) were associated with the development of PsA.

Conclusion:
The incidence of PsA in patients with psoriasis is higher than previously reported. A severe psoriasis phenotype, presence of nail pitting, low level of education, and uveitis are predictive of the development of PsA in patients with psoriasis.

Source: onlinelibrary.wiley.com

*Funding: Krembil Foundation and Canadian Institutes of Health Research

[jiml]

An interesting study although on only 464 patients.....the thing I don't understand is where education comes into the equation, I just feel it would be more relevant to use age to compare the likelihood of developing it

However any reasearch that is drawing attention to the disease has to be good

[Caroline]

An interesting study although on only 464 patients.....the thing I don't understand is where education comes into the equation, I just feel it would be more relevant to use age to compare the likelihood of developing it

However any reasearch that  is drawing attention to the disease  has to be good  

Education is obvious, anybody who is stupid has a higher chance of getting it

I think they need to do some work on this study.

[D Foster]

Does it refer by education the number of people who know about the possibility of PsA rather than general level of education, I would have thought that the number of years that from the onset of P to the start of the PSA would have been more interesting to know.