CORRELATION BETWEEN PSORIASIS SEVERITY AND PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS AMONG PATIENTS ATTENDING A TERTIARY CARE DERMATOLOGY CLINIC IN NORTH INDIA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
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Keywords
Psoriasis, Psoriatic arthritis, PASI, CASPAR, Prevalence
Abstract
Background:Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory musculoskeletal disease occurring in patients with psoriasis. Early diagnosis is essential to prevent irreversible joint damage. The relationship between severity of cutaneous psoriasis and occurrence of PsA remains controversial.
Objectives:To evaluate the association between psoriasis severity and the prevalence of psoriatic arthritis among patients attending a tertiary care dermatology clinic.
Materials and Methods:A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Dermatology and Department of Orthopedics, Prasad Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, from April 2025 to September 2025. A total of 142 consecutive patients with clinically diagnosed psoriasis were enrolled. Psoriasis severity was assessed using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and categorized as mild (PASI <10), moderate (PASI 10–20), and severe (PASI >20). Patients were evaluated for psoriatic arthritis according to CASPAR criteria. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square test.
Results:Among the 142 patients studied, 24 patients were diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, yielding an overall prevalence of 16.9%. PsA was present in 12 of 79 patients (15.2%) with mild psoriasis, 8 of 45 patients (17.8%) with moderate psoriasis, and 4 of 18 patients (22.2%) with severe psoriasis. Although the prevalence of PsA increased with increasing psoriasis severity, the association was not statistically significant (χ² = 0.63, p = 0.73).
Limitations:Single-center study with a relatively small sample size.
Conclusion:Psoriatic arthritis was identified in 16.9% of psoriasis patients. Although a trend towards increased PsA prevalence with increasing psoriasis severity was observed, no statistically significant association was demonstrated. A substantial proportion of PsA cases occurred among patients with mild psoriasis, emphasizing the need for routine screening irrespective of skin disease severity.
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Dr. Amit Kumar
Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Prasad Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow
Dr. Rajendra Kumar
Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopedics, Prasad Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow
