Epidemiological study of psoriasis in the national health insurance database in Taiwan

Yun Ting Chang, Tzeng Ji Chen, Pei Chi Liu, Yu Chun Chen, Yi Ju Chen, Yu Lin Huang, Jaw Shyang Jih, Chih Chiang Chen, Ding Dar Lee, Wen Jen Wang, Ming Wei Lin*, Han Nan Liu

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

117 Scopus citations

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, treatment modalities and comorbidity of psoriasis in Taiwan. A nationally representative cohort of 1,000,000 individuals from the National Health Insurance database was followed up for the years 2000 to 2006. Their claims data was used for an epidemiological study. The mean one-year prevalence of psoriasis was 0.23% for men and 0.16% for women, respectively. The prevalence of psoriasis increased more rapidly in male patients aged 30 years and over and reached its peak in patients aged 70 years and over, regardless of sex. Overall, 98.4% of patients received treatment with topical corticosteroids, while 13.1% used Chinese herbal medicines and 13.6% received systemic treatment. Patients with psoriasis had a higher comorbidity of diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, and hypertension. In conclusion, in contrast to Caucasians, the prevalence of psoriasis in Taiwanese people is higher in men than in women and the prevalence increases significantly in patients over 70 years of age.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)262-266
Number of pages5
JournalActa Dermato-Venereologica
Volume89
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009

Keywords

  • Comorbidity
  • Epidemiology
  • Health insurance
  • Psoriasis
  • Taiwanese

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