The The Effect of Obesity on the Cutaneous Severity of Psoriatic Patients
Keywords:
Psoriasis, Obesity, Body Mass Index, Disease Severity, Metabolic SyndromeAbstract
Objective: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that significantly impacts patients' quality of life, with a link to obesity and metabolic syndrome. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and disease severity.
Method: This cross-sectional descriptive study included 187 patients with chronic plaque-type psoriasis treated at the Dermatology Clinic, Chonburi Hospital, from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024. Statistical analyses included the Chi-square test, t-test, and multivariable logistic regression to assess the association of various factors with disease severity.
Results: When comparing by disease severity, the proportion of obese patients (BMI ≥ 25.0) in the severe group (PASI ≥ 10) was a significantly higher (71.2% compared to 34.2% in the mild-to-moderate group, p-value < 0.01). Multivariable analysis using BMI categories revealed that Obesity Class II (BMI ≥ 30.0kg/m2) was significantly associated with severe disease, with 4.54 times the odds of severe disease compared to the BMI<22.9 kg/m2 group (non-overweight) (aOR: 4.54, 95% CI: 1.24-16.64, p-value = 0.02).
Conclusions: The findings suggest that obesity (especially BMI ≥ 30.0kg/m2) is significantly associated with the severity of psoriasis. Therefore, weight management should be a part of standard care, including nutritional counseling and exercise, to improve treatment outcomes for psoriasis patients.
Keywords: Psoriasis, Obesity, Body Mass Index, Disease Severity, Metabolic Syndrome
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