Light for Hope Foundation ®

Statistics

Total Population

Non-elderly Uninsured Population

Patients with Psoriasis (2011)

Types of Psoriasis

Plaque 68-80%, Guttate 10%, Palmoplantar 8-10%, Pustular 5-7%, Erythrodermic  3%, Psoriasis of the Mouth 1%, Psoriatic Arthritis  10-30%

In the above calculations I have used a very modest percentage of only 2.2% but In reality 4 to 6% of the population can be affected with psoriasis outside of the tropics. Within the tropical region (tropic of cancer – tropic of Capricorn) manifestations of psoriasis are around the 1% of the population. Please, be aware that the word is "manifestation", as it is my believe that Psoriasis exist just as much as other areas but it manifest considerably less.

This is a part of the world, where the temperature and humidity are extremely high (unless you are on a mountainous area), suffer from constant torrential rains from which the soils washes away into the ocean,  and where there is high malnutrition, lack of education and fresh potable water as well as an uncheck population explosion. There... there is almost no Psoriasis.

I presume they needed a break.

They also have the right amount of ultraviolet natural irradiation or in the alternative they are extremely lucky!.

People from Canada and the Northern U.S. States will improve considerably their psoriasis in places at or near the equator. Countries like Colombia, Venezuela and Panamá should benefit from a psoriatic tourism.

Statistical data within the same latitude also shows that the frequency of this skin disease in the rural areas is approximately 300% less than in urban areas.

Few quality of life studies have been performed in psoriasis patients from the general US population but epidemiology studies from around the world have estimated the prevalence of psoriasis can be as high as 4.8% (1)

This finding is consistent with that of a recent US population- population-based survey, (2) which showed that 59% of patients with psoriasis have minimal skin involvement (less than 3 palms of body surface). In addition, a cross-sectional study in the United Kingdom demonstrated that at least 33% of patients with psoriasis identified through GPs were not using any therapy at the time of evaluation

However, for more than 20% of patients, the disease appears to create a significant burden with respect to health care utilization given that they required 5 or more prescriptions for psoriasis in the year after documentation of psoriasis by the Family Doctor.

Female patients and young patients are affected to a greater extent. (3)

The racial distribution of psoriasis is diffused, with prevalence rates showing Caucasians at 2.5 % and African Americans at 1.3%. People of Asian descent have lower psoriasis incidence rates (but higher eczema rates).

At first glance these statistics seem unimportant, but more Americans suffer from Psoriasis than Alzheimer (5.4 million), and Parkinson (500,000) diseases put together. 

The relationship between mild and severe cases of psoriasis sufferers (37%) is almost 1 on 3. That is for every 3 cases of psoriasis 1 will be with extensive skin involvement (more than 3 palms of body surface). (3)

We know that psoriasis can develop at any age but several studies have shown that there are two well-known time periods where people develop psoriasis, puberty and over 44 years of age. However, the greatest risk to develop PsA is between the ages of 30 to 50.

Some researches go as far as condition the presentation of the psoriasis with a existence or absence of a particular allele.

In reality, until we truly know the cause of psoriasis these are meaningless numbers the great majority of them obtained from surveys of patients that did not even know what and when it hit them. 

There are innumerable number of psoriasis sufferers that believed that the scalp psoriasis was just a case of dandruff, and that their dry skin and those “rashes” that come ago were just “stress” or something they ate, until someone diagnose their condition 20 years later.

A large number of patients suffering from psoriasis to which the disease appeared late in life and that lose their mother or father at early age (and these never show the disease) do not consider their condition hereditary unless they happen to have an uncle or an aunt showing it.

Psoriasis shows so late in life that in many instances the patient has already reproduced and passed along the disease. If one parent has psoriasis, his or her descendants have a 25% or higher, if the two parents have it this goes at high as a 75%. (Again found by surveys).

The state of affair is so confusing that If we don’t find a cure for Psoriasis and Alzheimer sooner or later humanity is going to get a taste of Psoriasis but at least they will not remember it.

REFERENCES

Prevalence and Treatment of Psoriasis in the United Kingdom - A Population-Based Study.

Joel M. Gelfand, MD, MSCE; Rachel Weinstein, PhD; Steven B. Porter, BA; Andrea L. Neimann, MD; Jesse A. Berlin, ScD; David J. Margolis, MD, PhD Stern RS, Nijsten T, Feldman SR, Margolis DJ, Rolstad

Psoriasis is common, carries a substantial burden even when not extensive, and is associated with widespread treatment dissatisfaction. Stern RS, Nijsten T, Feldman SR, Margolis DJ, Rolstad T. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc. 2004 Mar;9(2):136-9.   

Determinants of quality of life in patients with psoriasis: a study from the US population. Gelfand JM, Feldman SR, Stern RS, Thomas J, Rolstad T, Margolis DJ.. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2004;51:704-708.

The prevalence of psoriasis in Denmark. Brandrup F, Green A.. Acta Derm Venereol. 1981;61:344-346