Seasonal Variation of Psoriasis and Its Impact in the Therapeutic Management: A Retrospective Study on Chinese Patients

• Main Authors: Zheng X, Wang Q, Luo Y, Lu W, Jin L, Chen M, Zhu W, Kuang Y
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2021-05-01
• Series: Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology
• Subjects: psoriasis; seasonal variation; weather; occupational exposure; ultraviolet; smoking
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/seasonal-variation-of-psoriasis-and-its-impact-in-the-therapeutic-mana-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-CCID

Xuanwei Zheng,1– 3,* Qiaolin Wang,1– 3,* Yan Luo,1– 3 Wenhua Lu,1– 3 Liping Jin,1– 3 Menglin Chen,1– 3 Wu Zhu,1– 3 Yehong Kuang1– 3 1Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, People’s Republic of China; 2National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya Hospital), Changsha, 410008, People’s Republic of China; 3Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis (Xiangya Hospital), Changsha, 410008, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Wu Zhu; Yehong KuangXiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of ChinaTel [phone]; [phone]Email [e-mail]; [e-mail]: The seasonal patterns of psoriasis have been observed in previous studies. However, no published data indicated the risk factors associated with the seasonal variation.Purpose: This study aimed to investigate potentially related factors associated with seasonal pattern of psoriasis and provide possible implications for alleviating psoriasis in clinical practice.Patients and Methods: The retrospective study was conducted in Chinese patients with psoriasis. Demographic and clinical information were collected. Multivariable logistic regression analyses (calculating adjusted odds ratios [AORs]) were used to analyze data.Results: We continually enrolled 2270 patients (1496 males and 774 females) with psoriasis based on inclusion criteria. Disease duration (AOR=1.06, 95% CI: 1.05– 1.07), hyperlipidemia (AOR=1.77, 95% CI: 1.06– 2.98) and smoking (AOR=1.40, 95% CI: 1.17– 1.68) were significantly associated with severe psoriasis in autumn/winter. Age (AOR=0.98, 95% CI:0.97– 0.99) and occupations with more sunlight exposure (AOR=0.78, 95% CI: 0.61– 0.99) were negatively associated with the seasonal aggravation. Subgroup analysis showed that occupations with more sunlight exposure (AOR=0.64, 95% CI: 0.43– 0.94) were protective factors only in late-onset psoriasis but not early-onset, while smoking (AOR=1.39, 95% CI: 1.11– 1.74) was risk factor in the early-onset psoriasis.Conclusion: Psoriatic patients who had occupation with more sunlight exposure were less likely to report aggravation of psoriasis in autumn/winter. On the contrary, smoking and hyperlipidemia were positively associated with the seasonal aggravation. Additional prospective study is needed to identify the causality.Keywords: psoriasis, seasonal variation, weather, occupational exposure, ultraviolet, smoking