ERAPSO: Revealing the High Burden of Obesity in German Psoriasis Patients

Abstract

Introduction: Plaque psoriasis is a chronic, systemic-inflammatory disease characterized by skin erythema, plaques and scaling, and is associated with different comorbidities like psoriatic arthritis, obesity, and cardiometabolic diseases. Obesity aggravates cardiovascular risk in psoriasis patients and can negatively affect psoriasis disease severity with proinflammatory adipocytokine production by adipocytes and infiltrated immune cells. Methods: An online survey on nutrition and physical activity in psoriasis participants (ERAPSO) collected cross-sectional data about eating behavior, physical activity, and prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome components from 9940 psoriasis participants in Germany. Results: ERAPSO revealed a high burden of obesity in German psoriasis participants with 66.9% overweight or obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 25 kg/m2), compared to approximately 50% of the German general population. Affected body surface area (BSA), cardiovascular risk factors, and cardiovascular event frequency increased with increasing BMI. Severe psoriasis was more frequent in overweight participants and impaired engagement in weight loss diets and physical activity. Most German psoriasis participants (90.2%) with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 perceived themselves as overweight. A minority (21.2%) were currently exercising with the aim of losing weight, and 12.6% were currently on a weight loss diet. In overweight participants, just 13.3% stated that their physicians and/or health insurance offered specific weight loss programs. Conclusion: ERAPSO revealed inadequate medical care of obese psoriasis participants with insufficient support for weight loss through diet or increased physical activity. Although psoriasis participants showed an intact self-perception of obesity, they seemed to lack intrinsic motivation to lose weight, highlighting the need for external support in losing weight via tailored programs. Since psoriasis severity correlates with impairment in diets and sports, treating psoriasis adequately may allow participants to follow weight loss programs more successfully. Funding: Novartis Pharma GmbH, Nuremberg, DE.