OBJECTIVES:

The aim of the study was to analyses the prescription pattern and prevalence of psoriasis in a tertiary care hospital.

METHODS: A prospective, observational, single centre study was carried out in the dermatology department for six month duration after obtained the written approval by an Institutional Review Board and from Head of Dermatology Department. Patients attending in the Dermatology department who diagnosed with psoriasis by the Dermatologist were enrolled in the study after obtaining written informed consent from the patient.

RESULTS: In our study, it was found that the higher incidence of psoriasis lies in the age group between 51-60 years for both males and females, 61-70years for males alone and 41-50 years for females alone. In case of type of psoriasis, the most frequent manifestation was chronic plaque psoriasis 48%, followed by palmoplantar psoriasis (30%), scalp psoriasis (10%), Guttate (9%) and the rare manifestation was flexural psoriasis (3%). The most common sites involved was upper limb 60 (75.94%), followed by lower limb 48(60.75%), abdomen (46.67%), scalp (35%), back (31.66%), and chest (3.33%) of patients. The study populations received the total of 168 drugs. Topical steroids and Antihistamines were commonly prescribed classes of drugs that is, both 37.9% and the rarely prescribed class of drug was antimetabolites 2.5%.

CONCLUSIONS:

The study observed higher incidences of psoriasis in males and maximum seen in the age group between 51-60 years. Chronic plaque shows maximum frequency and topical steroids and Antihistamines were broadly prescribed medications.