Cigarette smoking adversely associated with Psoriasis Severity Index Scores, suggests study

The researchers conducted their investigation between 2021 and 2022, focusing on a cohort of psoriasis patients treated at the Shanghai Skin Diseases Hospital. They selected individuals with moderate-to-severe psoriasis, utilizing established diagnostic criteria such as the Chinese Clinical Dermatology guidelines and global standards. This ensured a consistent and reliable patient population for the study.

In total, 560 participants were included in the analysis, with the majority being male (72.9%) and the average age of the cohort being 48.4 years. Notably, 38.8% of the participants were current smokers, while 5.0% were former smokers. The baseline median PASI score, a measure of psoriasis severity, was recorded at 11.1, indicating moderate-to-severe disease burden among the participants.

The key findings of the study were:

• Throughout the study period, which spanned 8 weeks, the researchers assessed the treatment response of the participants.

•They measured PASI scores at weeks 4 and 8 to evaluate the extent of improvement in psoriasis severity.

• They found that 13.8% of patients achieved PASI 75, indicating a 75% reduction in disease severity, at the 4-week mark.

• This proportion increased to 47.3% by the end of the 8-week period.

• When examining the impact of smoking on treatment outcomes, the researchers uncovered significant differences.

• Non-smokers demonstrated a substantially higher likelihood of achieving PASI 75 at 8 weeks compared to smokers.

• Within the smoking subgroup, former smokers exhibited better treatment responses than current smokers.

• This suggests that smoking status plays a crucial role in determining the efficacy of psoriasis treatment.

Further analysis revealed that various factors related to smoking behavior, such as age at smoking initiation, duration of smoking habits, and smoking intensity, influenced treatment outcomes. Younger age at smoking initiation and prolonged smoking duration were associated with lower rates of PASI 75 achievement, emphasizing the detrimental effects of long-term smoking on psoriasis management.

The findings of this study underscore the importance of addressing tobacco smoking in the management of psoriasis. Healthcare providers should prioritize smoking cessation interventions and provide tailored support to patients with psoriasis, especially those who smoke. By effectively managing smoking habits, healthcare professionals can enhance the efficacy of psoriasis treatment and improve patient outcomes.

Reference:

Qiang* Y, Kuai* L, Liu* S, et al. Tobacco smoking negatively influences the achievement of greater than three-quarters reduction in psoriasis area and severity index after eight weeks of treatment among patients with psoriasis: Findings from a prospective study. Tobacco Induced Diseases. 2024;22(April):61. doi:10.18332/tid/184143.