Quality of life and comorbidities in palmoplantar pustulosis – a cross sectional study on 102 patients

Abstract

Background

Association of palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) with metabolic and autoimmune diseases has been reported in mostly small case series or anecdotal cases.

Objective

To assess health-related quality of life and prevalence of comorbidities in a large cohort of PPP patients.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study on patients with either active or past PPP. Disease severity was measured by the Palmoplantar Pustulosis Area and Severity Index (ppPASI). Quality of life was assessed by the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Comorbidities were evaluated by medical history, blood examination, stool testing for Helicobacter pylori antigen and screening tools for depression and psoriatic arthritis.

Results

A total of 102 patients (87 women, 15 men) with a mean age of 52.6 ± 14.1 years were evaluated. The mean DLQI was 7 ± 6. Comorbidities were frequent and consisted of hypercholesterolemia (38%), hypertension (32%), obesity (27%), metabolic syndrome (26%), depression (24%), diabetes (19%), autoimmune thyroiditis (16%) and psoriatic arthritis (16%).

Conclusion

Patients with PPP have an impaired quality of life and a broad range of comorbidities. Contrary to other reports our investigation failed to show an association between PPP and coeliac disease or H. pylori infection.

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