What Is the Economic Cost of Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is estimated to affect 2% to 3% of the population worldwide. Because there is no cure, ongoing management is required for its control. These authors reviewed data from 35 published studies to examine the economic burden of psoriasis in North America and Europe.

As might be expected, total healthcare expenditures were greater for patients with psoriasis than for those without. Costs include both direct expenses (e.g., treatments, doctors' visits and hospitalizations) and indirect costs (e.g., lost productivity at work, early retirement — most likely due to psoriatic arthritis). Direct costs varied by country. In a U.S. study not specific for disease severity, the annual direct cost was approximated at US$1.39 billion. In Canada, the…