Researchers of a study highlight the strong association between fatigue and joint pain and itch in patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), suggesting these symptoms are more significant indicators of fatigue than the severity of psoriasis itself. Using the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory score, the study found that patients with PsA experienced greater fatigue than those with only psoriasis. The study’s population included 2,148 adults with psoriasis, 593 with both psoriasis and PsA, and 3,788 controls. They were surveyed on various symptoms and disease severity measures, with a focus on joint pain, skin pain, pruritus severity, and sleep problems.
The research team also noted that biologic therapy might alleviate fatigue to some extent in these patients, but they stressed the need for further studies to better understand the different dimensions of fatigue in psoriatic disease. While the severity of psoriasis only marginally impacted fatigue components, joint pain and itch intensity had a much more significant influence, particularly on general fatigue, physical fatigue, and reduced activity. These findings suggest the importance of treating psoriatic disease with a symptom-based approach, focusing not just on objective severity measures but also on individual symptoms like joint pain and itch.
Reference: Kunzmann K. Psoriatic Joint Pain, Itch Linked to Greater Risk of Fatigue. HCPLive. Published February 27, 2024. Accessed March 18, 2024. https://www.hcplive.com/view/psoriatic-joint-pain-itch-linked-risk-fatigue
Link: https://www.hcplive.com/view/psoriatic-joint-pain-itch-linked-risk-fatigue
