Pruritus should be evaluated during psoriasis consultations

[Fred]

This large study of psoriasis patients in Italy suggests Pruritus should be evaluated during consultations.

Quote:

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Background:
Psoriasis (Ps) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease associated with pruritus in 64‐98% of patients. However, few modestly sized studies assess factors associated with psoriatic pruritus.

Objective:
To investigate factors associated with Ps pruritus intensity.

Methods:
Psoriasis patients 18 years or older seen in one of 155 centers in Italy between September 2005 and 2009 were identified from the Italian PsoCare registry. Patients without cutaneous psoriasis and those with missed information on pruritus were excluded.

Results:
We identified 10,802 patients, with a mean age 48.8±14.3 years. Mild itch was present in 33.2% of patients, moderate in 34.4%, severe in 18.7% and very severe in 13.7%. Higher itch intensity was associated with female gender, lower educational attainment compared to university degree, pustular psoriasis, psoriasis on the head, face, palmoplantar areas, folds and genitalia, more severe disease, disease duration <15 years, and no or few prior systemic treatments.

Limitations:
Effects of specific medication on itch were not assessed.

Conclusions:
Pruritus should be evaluated during psoriasis visits, and physicians should be aware of patients at higher risk for itch. Further studies are needed to assess the effects of medications on itch, and establish therapy for psoriasis patients with persistent itch.

Source: onlinelibrary.wiley.com

*Early view funding unknown.

[Turnedlight]

Lower educational attainment?!

[Fred]

Lower educational attainment?!

"lower educational attainment compared to university degree"

[Turnedlight]

Lower educational attainment?!

"lower educational attainment compared to university degree"

How is that any better?! So you’re less itchy if you have a degree? I fail to see the relevance!

[Fred]

Lower educational attainment?!

"lower educational attainment compared to university degree"

How is that any better?! So you’re less itchy if you have a degree? I fail to see the relevance!

The way I read it was that Females have higher itch intensity than Males. And for some reason so do people with a lower education than those with a degree.

I understand the comparison between Female and Male, but like you I fail to see the relevance with education and was just pointing out that it was a comparison between two references.

[Caroline]

Lower educational attainment?!

"lower educational attainment compared to university degree"

How is that any better?! So you’re less itchy if you have a degree? I fail to see the relevance!

The way I read it was that Females have higher itch intensity than Males. And for some reason so do people with a lower education than those with a degree.

I understand the comparison between Female and Male, but like you I fail to see the relevance with education and was just pointing out that it was a comparison between two references.

It might be that people with lower education have different kinds of jobs, perhaps more physical jobs in which they might be in contact with materials that have a higher irritation degree.
People with university degrees may be more in protected environments like offices and so on.

But I do agree, that it seems a stupid relation if you see this. It should be explained why, because indeed theoretically the education cannot be the cause of itching.

[Fred]

It might be that people with lower education have different kinds of jobs, perhaps more physical jobs in which they might be in contact with materials that have a higher irritation degree.
People with university degrees may be more in protected environments like offices and so on.

But I do agree, that it seems a stupid relation if you see this. It should be explained why, because indeed theoretically the education cannot be the cause of itching.

God points. And another thing is we have to remember is that I only put the "Abstract" version in the post. Maybe it mentioned other things in the full version, but the education one was more relevant to the report. But I don't have the full version and wouldn't post it anyway.

[Turnedlight]

Sorry Fred, not having a go at you, though looking back I do come across a bit like that - I was just surprised by the suggestion that how badly you itch could have to do with intellect! the correlation between eduction and job types is a very possible explanation though.

[Fred]

Sorry Fred, not having a go at you, though looking back I do come across a bit like that  - I was just surprised by the suggestion that how badly you itch could have to do with intellect!   the correlation between eduction and job types is a very possible explanation though.

Oh TL you have no need to apologise,  I didn't think for one minute that you were "having a go" at me.    Anyway I'm thick skinned and probably wouldn't notice.  

I always try to leave my personal opinions from new reports. If someone posts after the report I may chip in if I feel like it, but the first post is not my opinion. After that it is my own opinion, but I didn't worry about offending you with my reply.