Psoriasis area and severity index (pasi) and dermatological life quality index (dlqi) correlation in patients with cutaneous psoriasis

Psoriasis is a highly prevalent skin disease in several populations worldwide. It is a genetic, immunologically based disease triggered by environmental factors. One way to assess the severity of the disease is using the PASI (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index) and the DLQI (Dermatological Life Quality Index). This instrument assesses the quality of life. The objective of this study was to evaluate the PASI and DLQI of patients with cutaneous psoriasis and to evaluate the association of these indicators to determine how the severity of the disease influences their quality of life and vice versa. A retrospective, cross-sectional study was carried out by consulting the medical records of 944 patients treated at the Dermatology outpatient clinic of the Beneficent Association of the University Hospital of Marília, São Paulo, during the year 2010. Of these, 56 patients with psoriasis who underwent PASI and DLQI were selected for the study. Of these, 40 patients provided complete data for the evaluation, thus constituting the study sample (14 men and 26 women, mean age of 41.5 years). Thus, 40 questionnaires were obtained in the first consultation (zero study time), 21 in the second consultation, and 13 in the third consultation. A correlation was observed between the applied questionnaire and the clinical index revealed through Spearman's correlation coefficients. It was found that the association of PASI with the DLQI questionnaire in patients with cutaneous psoriasis is of remarkable importance to conducting the patient's treatment since the DLQI presents the impact of the disease on the patient's life in association with the involvement and the severity of psoriasis. As such, this instrument is highly indicated in the treatment of patients with psoriasis.