Background: Juvenile psoriasis has a negative effect on the quality of life (QoL). The influence of treatments on QoL of these children has never been investigated before in a prospective observational study.
Objectives: To assess the Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) in a cohort of patients with juvenile psoriasis and to evaluate the influence of treatments in daily clinical practice on CDLQI.
Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study of children with psoriasis from a registry containing daily clinical practice data. Before and after treatment, QoL was assessed by the CDLQI and disease severity was documented by the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). Three clusters of treatments were analysed: topical, dithranol and systemic therapy.
Results: In total, 125 patients were enrolled in the registry. Cross-sectionally, a mean ± SD CDLQI score of 7·5 ± 5·0 and a mean ± SD PASI of 7·0 ± 5·8 were recorded. Itching and problems with treatment had the highest impact on the children's QoL. Longitudinally, 85 patients were analysed with a total of 137 treatment episodes. All treatments contributed to a significant decline in total CDLQI score, with the largest decrease seen in dithranol and systemic treatments. A significant correlation was found between ΔCDLQI and ΔPASI for all treatment modalities. The highest positive impact of treatments was found in a decline of itch and sleep disturbance.
Conclusions: In this first prospective observational study on CDLQI in juvenile psoriasis, a positive influence of treatments in daily clinical practice on QoL was demonstrated.
© 2012 The Authors. BJD © 2012 British Association of Dermatologists.