According to the American Academy of Dermatology, psoriasis affects around 7.5 million people in the United States. Around 20 percent of these individuals have moderate to severe psoriasis, where the condition covers at least 5 percent of their body.Studies have indicated that people with psoriasis are at greater risk of developing a host of other conditions, or comorbidities, including Cancer, depression, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and liver disease.For this latest study, Dr. Noe and colleagues sought to determine how the severity of psoriasis influences mortality risk.
Using BSA to measure psoriasis severity
The researchers came to their findings by analyzing information from a database in the United Kingdom, identifying 8,760 people with psoriasis and 87,600 people without the disease.Setting this study apart from previous research, the team sent surveys to the physician of each patient to determine the body surface area (BSA) affected by psoriasis. Subjects were divided into groups of psoriasis severity based on this information.
Source:www.medicalnewstoday.com