Comorbidities play a crucial role in decision-making of systemic treatments usage for psoriasis, a new study found. The retrospective analysis examined the main associations between patients’ characteristics and systemic treatments prescribed for psoriasis in a large group of patients observed in real life clinical practice. Researchers found:

• 549 patients (mean age 46.7 years) were included in the analysis.
• Conventional therapies like retinoids and methotrexate were associated with no previous systemic therapies for psoriasis, a moderate quality of life (QOL) at therapy onset, and older age.
• Cyclosporine and PUVA/UVB treatments were linked to a more severe condition, including impaired QOL.
• Comorbidities, including chronic liver or kidney diseases and tuberculosis, played a central role in decision-making of systemic treatments usage for psoriasis.