Comorbidities and Medication Use in Finnish Patients with Psoriasis: A Population-Based Registry Study.

Therapeutic options for psoriasis vulgaris have changed during recent decades with the introduction of biologics. Few nationwide studies are available on psoriasis treatment patterns, and those from Finland predate the use of biologics. The aim of this retrospective, population-based registry study was to identify patients with psoriasis vulgaris and their treatment patterns in the secondary care setting in Finland. The study cohort included 41,456 adults with a diagnosis of psoriasis vulgaris in the public secondary healthcare setting from 2012 through 2018. Data on comorbidities, pharmacotherapy, and phototherapy were collected from nationwide healthcare and drug registries. Patients in the cohort had a wide range of comorbidities, with 14.9% having psoriatic arthritis. Treatment was based largely on topical and conventional systemic medications. Conventional medications were used by 28.9% of patients, and methotrexate was the most common option (20.9%). Biologics were used by 7.3% of patients, mostly as second- and third-line treatment. The use of conventional systemic medications, topical treatments, and phototherapy decreased after the initiation of biologics. This study of psoriasis vulgaris in Finland provides a framework for the development of future care practices.

The association of body mass index with quality of life and working ability: a Finnish population-based study.

PURPOSE: The impact of obesity on quality of life (QoL) and working ability vary in different dimensions. This study investigated the association of obesity with QoL and working ability in Finnish adults. Comorbidities as associative factors were also characterised. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 4956 randomly selected adults. QoL (EUROHIS-QOL 8 total score and individual components), perceived physical and psychological working ability, and sick leave days were analysed in different body mass index (BMI) groups. Regression models were used to study the role of comorbidities as associative factors. RESULTS: EUROHIS-QOL 8 total score was significantly lower in BMI group 25.0-29.9 kg/m2 (4.01; 95% confidence interval 3.97-4.05), BMI 30.0-34.9 kg/m2 (3.85; 3.79-3.91), BMI 35.0-39.9 kg/m2 (3.75; 3.66-3.85), and BMI ≥ 40.0 kg/m2 (3.73; 3.46-4.00) compared to individuals with normal (18.5-24.9 kg/m2) BMI (4.08; 4.04-4.12). Individuals with obesity (BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2) rated their QoL lower than individuals with normal BMI in seven of the eight EUROHIS-QOL 8 components. A lesser proportion of individuals (53-73%) with obesity rated their physical working ability as very or fairly good compared to individuals with normal BMI (90%, p values < 0.001). The psychological working ability was rated as very or fairly good by 71-75% of individuals with obesity compared to 85% of individuals with normal BMI (p = 0.008 and p = 0.001 in individuals with BMI 30.0-34.9 and BMI 35.0-39.9 kg/m2, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Obesity was negatively associated with both physical and psychological components of QoL, even after accounting for obesity-related comorbidities. Obesity treatment can benefit from a holistic approach that considers these multifaceted associations.