Statistics About Psoriasis

Prevalence

  • Psoriasis is the most prevalent autoimmune disease in the United States.
  • According to current studies, as many as 7.5 million Americans – approximately 
2.2% of the population – have psoriasis.
  • 125 million people worldwide – 2% to 3% of the total population – have psoriasis, according to the World Psoriasis Day consortium.
  • Studies show that between 10% and 30% of people with psoriasis also develop psoriatic arthritis.
  • Psoriasis prevalence in African Americans is 1.3% compared to 2.5% of Caucasians.

Quality of Life

  • Nearly 60% of people with psoriasis reported their disease to be a large problem in their everyday life.
  • Nearly 40% with psoriatic arthritis reported their disease to be a large problem in everyday life.
  • Patients with moderate to severe psoriasis experienced a greater negative impact on their quality of life.
  • Psoriasis has a greater impact on quality of life in women and younger patients.

Age of Onset

  • Psoriasis often appears between the ages of 15 and 25, but can develop at any age.
  • Psoriatic arthritis usually develops between the ages of 30 and 50, but can develop at any age.

Severity of Psoriasis

  • The National Psoriasis Foundation defines mild psoriasis as affecting less than 3% of the body; 3% to 10% is considered moderate; more than 10% is considered severe. For most individuals, your hand is about the same as 1% of the skin surface. However, the severity of psoriasis is also measured by how psoriasis affects a person’s quality of life.
  • Nearly one-quarter of people with psoriasis have cases that are considered moderate to severe.

Cost of Psoriasis

  • Total direct and indirect healthcare costs of psoriasis for patients are calculated at $11.25 billion annually, with work loss accounting for 40% of the cost burden.
  • Approximately 60% of psoriasis patients missed an average of 26 days of work a year due to their illness.

Genetic Aspects of Psoriasis

  • About one out of three people with psoriasis report having a relative with psoriasis.
  • If one parent has psoriasis, a child has about a 10% chance of having psoriasis. If both parents have psoriasis, a child has approximately a 50% chance of developing the disease.