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The following is a summary of “Characteristics and drivers of fatigue in patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: A cross sectional study,” published in the July 2024 issue of Dermatology by Nymand, et al.
Fatigue is a prevalent issue in patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), influenced by various factors, although the specific components contributing to fatigue have not been extensively studied. For a study, researchers sought to investigate the characteristics of fatigue and potential contributing factors in a cohort of patients with psoriasis, with and without PsA.
Adults diagnosed with psoriasis, including a subgroup with PsA and a nonpsoriasis control group, completed the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20 questionnaire. Patients with psoriasis reported joint pain intensity, pruritus, skin pain, and sleep problems using a numerical rating scale. Linear regression models were employed to analyze continuous outcomes, estimating beta coefficients (β) with 95% CIs.
The study included 2,741 adults with psoriasis (593 had PsA) and 3,788 controls. Both psoriasis (β = 2.10; 95% CI, 0.96-3.25) and PsA (β = 5.22; 95% CI, 3.55-6.90) significantly correlated with increased total fatigue compared to controls (Ptrend < .0001). In patients with psoriasis, regardless of PsA status, higher joint pain intensity was strongly associated with overall fatigue (β = 2.23; 95% CI, 2.03-2.44 for each 1-point increase in joint pain score). The study did not account for the potential impact of pharmacotherapy on fatigue outcomes.
The findings underscored the importance of addressing subjective symptoms, such as joint pain, pruritus, and sleep disturbances, when managing psoriasis and PsA rather than solely relying on objective measures of disease severity.
Reference: sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190962224004006
