Background: The prevalence of psoriasis is similar between men and women; however, evidence exists of sex- and gender-related differences in disease expression, impact, coping, and needs of patients with psoriasis. These differences are essential and should be considered in clinical practice and research.
Objective: To compile available evidence on sex- and gender-related differences in psoriasis, identify the most critical gaps in clinical practice and research, and use it to propose strategies for improved clinical practice.
Methods: Six European dermatologists selected the topics to consider according to their relevance in the dermatology setting with the support of methodologists. Evidence on sex- and gender-related differences was obtained by a scoping review based on search strategies in Medline and Cochrane Library from inception to October 2021 using the following terms: arthritis, psoriatic, psoriasis, gender, and sex. The panel discussed the results and proposed strategies by consensus.
Results: The scoping review identified broad themes: (1) clinical expression, (2) severity and patient-reported outcomes, (3) psychosocial impact, (4) access to treatments and propensity to treat, (5) comorbidities, and (6) treatment effect. The strategies are based on these broad themes.
Limitations: No risk of bias assessment was done due to the scoping nature of the review.
Conclusion: This review offers insights into gender differences in psoriasis, providing a foundation for improving clinical practice and patient outcomes.
Keywords: gender; position statement; psoriasis; scoping review; sex.
Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of Women’s Dermatologic Society.