Statistics
The following statistics show that psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are common, life-altering and often debilitating conditions.
Worldwide
- Psoriasis affects an estimated 2-3 percent of the world's population.
- 125 million people worldwide have psoriasis, according to the World Psoriasis Day consortium.
National health concern
- According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), between 5.8 and 7.5 million Americans have psoriasis.
- Studies have shown that between 10 percent and 30 percent of people with psoriasis also develop psoriatic arthritis.
National Psoriasis Foundation Benchmark Survey
In 2001, the National Psoriasis Foundation commissioned the Benchmark Survey on Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis. The results provided prevalence information, increased our understanding of the impact of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, and demonstrated that psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis carry a substantial burden. This Psoriasis Forum article provides more information about the survey and the published papers it generated. The statistics below come from the Benchmark Survey.
Prevalence
- 2.2 percent of American adults have been diagnosed with psoriasis, confirming that psoriasis is a common disease.1
- 11 percent of those diagnosed with psoriasis have also been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. This is a prevalence of 0.25 percent of American adults in the general population.2
- Psoriasis prevalence in African Americans was 1.3 percent compared to 2.5 percent of Caucasians.3
Quality of life
- Psoriasis is not a cosmetic problem. Nearly 60 percent reported their disease to be a large problem in their everyday life.1
- Nearly 40 percent with psoriatic arthritis reported their disease to be a large problem in everyday life.2
- Patients with psoriasis covering more of their body (more extensive skin disease) experienced a greater negative impact on their quality of life.4
- Psoriasis had a greater impact on quality of life in women and younger patients.4
Treatment satisfaction
- Less than 40 percent of respondents indicated they were very satisfied with any of the four therapies assessed in the study (acitretin [brand name Soriatane], cyclosporine, methotrexate or PUVA [psoralen plus ultraviolet light A]).5
- Nearly 80 percent of persons who were very dissatisfied with their treatment did not have severe disease (less than 10 palms of coverage or <10 percent BSA).1
- Members of the National Psoriasis Foundation reported their disease to be significantly less of a burden and were more satisfied with treatment.6
Age of onset
- Psoriasis often appears between the ages of 15 and 25, but can develop at any age.
- Psoriatic arthritis usually develops between the ages of 30 and 50, but it can develop at any time.
Severity of psoriasis
- The National Psoriasis Foundation defines mild psoriasis as affecting less than three percent of the body; 3 percent to 10 percent is considered moderate; more than ten percent is considered severe. The palm of the hand equals 1 percent of the skin. However, the severity of psoriasis is also measured by how psoriasis affects a person's quality of life. Psoriasis can have a serious impact even if it involves a small area, such as the palms of the hands or soles of the feet.
- The majority of people with psoriasis have mild disease.
- Nearly one-quarter of people with psoriasis have cases that are considered moderate to severe.
Cost of psoriasis
- Overall costs of treating psoriasis may exceed $3 billion annually. A 1993 study estimated that between $2 and $3 billion was spent annually on psoriasis treatments.7
Genetic aspects of psoriasis
- About one out of three people with psoriasis report that a relative had psoriasis.
- If one parent has psoriasis, a child has about a 10 percent chance of having psoriasis. If both parents have psoriasis, a child has approximately a 50 percent chance of developing the disease.
Survey panels
The National Psoriasis Foundation conducts survey panels twice each year to understand the experiences and opinions of people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and document the burden of these diseases.
Cited studies
1. Stern RS, Nijsten T, Feldman SR, Margolis DJ, Rolstad T. Psoriasis is common, carries a substantial burden even when not extensive, and is associated with widespread treatment dissatisfaction. J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc. 2004 Mar;9(2):136-9.
2. Gelfand JM, Gladman DD, Mease PJ, Smith N, Margolis DJ, Nijsten T, Stern RS, Feldman SR, Rolstad T. Epidemiology of psoriatic arthritis in the population of the United States. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005 Oct;53(4):573.
3. Gelfand JM, Stern RS, Nijsten T, Feldman SR, Thomas J, Kist J, Rolstad T, Margolis DJ. the prevalence of psoriasis in African Americans: results from a population-based study. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005 Jan;52(1):23-6.
4. Gelfand JM, Feldman SR, Stern RS, Thomas J, Rolstad T, Margolis DJ. Determinants of quality of life in patients with psoriasis: a study from the U.S. population. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2004 Nov;51(5):704-8.
5. Nijsten T, Margolis DJ, Feldman SR, Rolstad T, Stern RS. Traditional systemic treatments have not fully met the needs of psoriasis patients: results from a national survey. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005 Mar;52(3 Pt 1):434-44.
6. Nijsten T, Rolstad T, Feldman SR, Stern RS. Members of the National Psoriasis Foundation: more extensive disease and better informed about treatment options. Arch Dermatol. 2005 Jan;141(1):19-26.
7. Sander HM, Morris LF, Phillips CM, Harrison PE, Menter A. The annual cost of psoriasis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1993; 28; 422-9.
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