INTRODUCTION
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that impairs physical and psychosocial functioning.1-3 In addition to work impairment, patients with psoriasis report that they experience frequent negative emotions and difficulties with social interactions due to this highly visible disease.2 Psoriasis is estimated to affect 1% to 3% of Canadians, although its prevalence has been reported to be as high as 4.7% in some instances.4
Psoriasis Assessment Tools
The severity of psoriasis varies depending on the patient and location of the affected area, which commonly includes the scalp, elbows and knees, and peri-umbilical and peri-anal regions.3,5 Several assessment tools exist to quantify the impact of psoriasis, including the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), psoriasis-involved body surface area (BSA), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), and Physician Global Assessment (PGA).6 According to Finlay’s “rule of tens,†a practical concept used to guide decision-making in clinical practice settings, severe psoriasis refers to patients with a BSA >10%, PASI score >10, or DLQI score >10.7 Finlay’s proposal is comparable with that of the National Psoriasis Foundation, which defines mild psoriasis as BSA <3%, moderate psoriasis as BSA 3% to 10%, and severe psoriasis as BSA >10%.8
Defining Moderate Psoriasis
Despite these efforts to classify psoriasis disease severity, psoriasis categories are often combined or collapsed for
Psoriasis Assessment Tools
The severity of psoriasis varies depending on the patient and location of the affected area, which commonly includes the scalp, elbows and knees, and peri-umbilical and peri-anal regions.3,5 Several assessment tools exist to quantify the impact of psoriasis, including the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), psoriasis-involved body surface area (BSA), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), and Physician Global Assessment (PGA).6 According to Finlay’s “rule of tens,†a practical concept used to guide decision-making in clinical practice settings, severe psoriasis refers to patients with a BSA >10%, PASI score >10, or DLQI score >10.7 Finlay’s proposal is comparable with that of the National Psoriasis Foundation, which defines mild psoriasis as BSA <3%, moderate psoriasis as BSA 3% to 10%, and severe psoriasis as BSA >10%.8
Defining Moderate Psoriasis
Despite these efforts to classify psoriasis disease severity, psoriasis categories are often combined or collapsed for