An Epidemiological Study on Trigger Factors and Quality of Life in Psoriatic Patients

Objective: to evaluate the role of stress, tobacco, drugs, infections, allergies, heredity, alcohol, hormones and skin aggressions as trigger factors and the impact on quality of life in a sample of psoriasis patients. Methods: a transversal study performed in 90 patients affected by psoriasis between January and November 2012 at the “Nene Tereza” University Hospital, Tirane, Albania, based on two scored questionnaires. Results: more than 70 % of patients reported that stressful events caused a flare- up of their psoriasis ( p 0.05). More than 60% of males and 20% of females were smokers (p 0.05). About 20% of our patients were taking one or more of the medications listed in the questionnaire ( p 0.05).About 20% of patients reported having had recurrent infections (p 0,05). About 80% of males patients consumed alcohol (p 0,05). More than 40% reported a relative with psoriasis. Statistical comparison of the group that reported skin aggressions with the group that did not revealed a significant difference (p 0,05). Only a few of them reported to have allergies (p 0,05). About 36% of females reported that hormonal changes (puberty and menopause) exacerbated their psoriasis (p 0,05). More than 40% of patients reported that psoriasis seriously affects their quality of life. Conclusion: stress, tobacco, infections, heredity, alcohol, hormonal changes and skin aggressions were confirmed as trigger factors for psoriasis in the present sample. Allergies and the investigated drugs seemed not to have any influence in flare-ups . We found that psoriasis had a serious impact in the quality of life in over of 40% of the patients interviewed.