Psoriasis is linked to fatigue, particularly among individuals with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Researchers led by Lea Nymand, affiliated with Bispebjerg Hospital and the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, investigated the prevalence and drivers of fatigue in patients with psoriasis, with or without PsA. The study involved 2,741 adults diagnosed with psoriasis, including 593 who also had PsA, and 3,788 controls without psoriasis. Participants completed the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20 questionnaire.
The findings revealed that compared to individuals without psoriasis, those with PsA experienced the highest levels of overall fatigue, followed by individuals with psoriasis alone (β = 5.22 and 2.10, respectively). Among patients with psoriasis, regardless of PsA status, increased intensity of joint pain was significantly associated with higher levels of fatigue (β = 2.23 for each 1-point increase in joint pain numerical rating scale score).
“Key contributors to fatigue included joint pain and itch, while the severity of psoriasis itself had a relatively minor impact on fatigue,” the researchers noted. “These results underscore the importance of addressing symptoms when managing psoriasis, rather than solely relying on measures of disease severity.”
The study also disclosed financial relationships between several authors and the biopharmaceutical industry.
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