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BackgroundIn previous studies, productivity losses have been measured specifically due to psoriasis or generally due to health problems in psoriasis patients. There is no information on the proportion of health related productivity losses that are due to psoriasis.The aim of this study was to estimate the proportion of productivity losses due to psoriasis and due to other medical problems among employed psoriasis patients.MethodsPatients visiting a tertiary level dermatological clinic during a one-year period due to psoriasis or psoriasis arthritis, who were employed, were selected to the study. A questionnaire was used to assess productivity losses during the previous month.ResultsPsoriasis accounted for 38% of the total lost productivity costs. One fifth of patients had been on sick leave (absenteeism) due to psoriasis and a third of patients worked despite being sick with psoriasis (presenteeism). Men had higher costs of presenteeism, but the costs of absenteeism due to psoriasis were lower for men than for women.ConclusionsProductivity losses should be assessed disease specifically to avoid overestimations of the role of the disease on indirect costs. Our study shows that about a third of the lost productivity costs are due to psoriasis.

Background: Psoriasis has an influence on various aspects of patients' everyday life. When estimating the total burden of the disease, the influence on leisure-time should also be taken into account. Objectives: To evaluate the perceived impact of psoriasis on leisure-time activities. Material and methods: The questionnaire study was based on 262 patients with psoriasis. The patients were asked to list their leisure-time activities, any activities they had reduced or given up completely because of psoriasis, the time spent on current leisure-time activities and the time they would have spent in a hypothetical situation if they did not have psoriasis. Using a visual analogue scale (VAS) of 0-100, the patients assessed how well they could currently perform their leisure-time activities and how well in a hypothetical situation without psoriasis. The difference between the VAS scores depicted the level of disadvantage caused by psoriasis. Results: More than half the patients (51.9%) had reduced or completely given up at least one leisure-time activity. The disadvantage score (VAS) of psoriasis was 16.9. Younger age was associated with higher disadvantage (r = 0.154, p<0.05). Sports activities were completely given up by 30.2% and reduced by 23.7%. Social activities and those which could be expected to cause embarrassment were given up by 29.0% and reduced by 21.4% of the patients. Conclusion: A majority of patients with psoriasis reduce or give up leisure-time activities because of their condition, so the influence of psoriasis on leisure-time is considerable.

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