P65 Clinical characteristics of pruritus in Bangladeshi psoriasis patients

Abstract Background Psoriasis is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease associated with pruritus and seriously affects the quality of life of patients, but published data on its frequency and characteristics are limited. Objectives The purpose of this study is to find out the characteristics of pruritus in patients with different types of psoriasis and its impacts on the quality of life in Bangladesh. Materials and Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Dermatology and Venereology of Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh for the period between March 2021 and August 2022 by using various validated tools like Visual Analog Scale, body surface area (BSA), psoriasis area and severity index (PASI), palmoplantar pustulosis severity index, severity of generalized pustular psoriasis, Static Physician Global Assessment Scale, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and Family Reported Outcome Measure (FROM). After developing a questionnaire assessing various aspects of pruritus, we have surveyed 270 patients of psoriasis with different varieties regarding the presence and intensity of pruritus and life quality assessment. Results The mean age of the patients was 38.86 (±14.32) years, and males 182 (67.4%) outnumber females 88 (32.6%). A total of 210 (77.8%) patients reported having pruritus, 110 (40.74%) had moderate pruritus, 82 (30.37%) had mild pruritus, and 18 (6.7%) had severe pruritus. Pruritus was more common in the 21–40 years age group (35%), male sex (53%), low-income group (51%), outside field workers (23%), winter and spring exacerbation (31%), BSA <9% group (45%), palmoplantar psoriasis types (19%) and mild PASI (38%) group. In regards to DLQI, the majority 91 (33.7%) patients had a small effect, 68 (25.2%) had a large effect, 54 (20%) had a moderate effect, 53 (19.6%) had extremely large effect, and 4 (1.5%) had no effect. Conclusion Though pruritus is not specific to psoriasis, this study conveys the severity of pruritus in psoriasis patients in which a physician may encounter in clinical practice to monitor disease severity and optimization of treatment as well as take proper steps to improve the quality of life of patients.