Correlations between Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), body mass index (BMI), smoking, and alcohol consumption in patients with psoriasis - a Romanian study.

Psoriasis, one of the most prevalent dermatological diseases, is a chronic inflammatory condition influenced by genetic and environmental factors, such as lifestyle and nutrition. Regarding lifestyle, body weight, smoking, and alcohol consumption have been studied in the last decades, for their association with the risk of developing psoriasis and with its severity. Moreover, the association between diabetes mellitus and psoriasis severity is also under research. In our observational cross-sectional study, we examined a convenience sample of 282 patients with psoriasis vulgaris, aged 18 to 79 years. The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score ranged from 1 to 54, with a mean of 8.34 ± 6.69; patient body mass index (BMI) ranged from 18.80 to 57.19, with a mean of 25.96 ± 5.21, and increased with patient age. A direct correlation was observed between BMI and psoriasis severity; non-smokers generally had lower PASI scores, although the association was not statistically significant (P = 0.944). Similarly, PASI scores were generally higher in alcohol consumers, but this association was also not statistically significant (P = 0.983). A non-statistically significant increase in PASI scores was also observed in patients with diabetes as a comorbidity. Based on our study conducted on a convenience sample from a Romanian hospital, it appears that higher BMI, alcohol consumption, and smoking are associated with increased PASI score values. However, further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms better.