Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Geriatric Patients with Psoriasis: A Single-center, Cross-sectional, Retrospective Study in Turkish Population.

Background: Psoriasis is a common, chronic, inflammatory skin disorder affecting almost 2-3% of the population. Studies on the epidemiological data and the course of the disease have generally been published in pediatric and middle-aged patients, where the disease is more common. This study aimed to provide more insight into the disease and treatment characteristics of psoriasis patients over 65. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective, cross-sectional, single-center, hospital-based study, patients over 65 who visited our department between 01.06.2017 and 01.06.2020 were included. Results: Ninety six patients with psoriasis were admitted to our outpatient clinic during the study period. The mean age of the patients was 69.92±4.73 years. Women and men were equally affected. Almost 9.4% of the patients had psoriatic arthritis. The patients’ mean Psoriasis Area Severity Index score was 8.39±7.11, and the disease duration was 13.76±12.71 years. Nail involvement was detected in 43.8% of the patients. Family history was positive in 19.8% of the patients. Smoking was positive in 28.1% of the patients, and regular alcohol use was positive in 6.3%. Conclusion: The clinical course of psoriasis is usually milder in elderly onset patients. Further studies are warranted to determine the best management of psoriasis in elderly patients. Drug interactions and metabolism should be carefully managed in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]