P88 Higher socioeconomic status is associated with psoriasis

Abstract

The role of several environmental risk factors such as stressful life events, smoking and overweight as triggers for psoriasis has been undoubtedly validated. Recent inquiries regarding the association between socioeconomic factors and psoriasis yielded contraindicating observations, and this relationship remains unclear. The aim was to measure the association between psoriasis and socioeconomic status (SES). We carried out a nationwide population-based cross-sectional study that included all patients insured by the Clalit healthcare organization (n = 4 604 994). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the association between psoriasis and SES while controlling for potential medical and habitual confounders. The study population included 129 855 patients with psoriasis and 4 475 139 controls. The mean (SD) age of patients with psoriasis was 51.53 (19.96) years, and the proportion of females was 51.5%. Higher SES was associated with an increased prevalence of psoriasis. In a fully adjusted model, people within the highest socioeconomic level were 1.43-fold more likely to have psoriasis than those with the lowest SES [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.39–1.48; P < 0.001]; people of medium SES were 1.2-fold more likely to have psoriasis than those of the lowest SES [95% CI 1.18–1.26; P < 0.001 (P-value for linear trend < 0.001)]. There is a positive correlation between SES and psoriasis prevalence. Further investigation is warranted to elucidate which biologic or behavioural factors contribute to these findings.