The Impact of Psoriasis by the Numbers

Because of its widespread influence on patients’ mental and physical health, the healthcare system, and even the economy, knowing how to diagnose and manage psoriasis is key. For Psoriasis Awareness Month, we’re breaking down the disease’s impact by the numbers as a reminder of how critical it is to understand—this month and every month.

~125,000,000

people are living with psoriasis around the world. This totals about two to three percent of the global population.

>8,000,000

Americans have been diagnosed with psoriasis as of 2022, adding up to about three percent of U.S. adults.

Up to 30%

of psoriasis patients will develop psoriatic arthritis. This potentially disabling joint disease is characterized by pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints as well as changes in the nails, lower back pain, and fatigue.

~25%

of all cases are considered moderate to severe, meaning the body surface area of the psoriasis is over three percent. The severity of the disease is also measured by how it impacts quality of life.

$135,000,000,000

is the estimated annual U.S. economic burden of psoriasis, including direct care and lost productivity. The health costs of psoriasis patients are significantly greater than that of the general population because of the disease’s physical, psychiatric, and social consequences.

A 30-year-old with severe psoriasis has a

3x

greater risk of myocardial infarction than someone without it. Even mild psoriasis raises the risk by around 30 percent at age 30.

3.6% vs. 1.5%

is how psoriasis prevalence compares in Caucasians versus African Americans. However, the disease is likely to be underdiagnosed in people of color due to differences in clinical presentation.

20-30 and 50-60 years old

are the two peaks of onset for psoriasis, though it can develop at any age. Psoriatic arthritis usually develops between the ages of 30 and 50.

~20%

of psoriasis patients experience depression as of 2023. For comparison, five percent of people worldwide are reported to have depression.

Following

1 year

of persistent risankizumab, patients with psoriasis saw substantial improvements in fatigue, pain, itch, quality-of-life, and activity impairment.

Of patients receiving apremilast for five to seven months,

81%

of patients achieved PASI 75.

Psoriasis extends far beyond the skin, significantly affecting patients' physical health and mental wellbeing. Advances like risankizumab and apremilast offer meaningful relief, but ongoing disparities underline the need for greater awareness and personalized care. As a result, addressing psoriasis comprehensively is essential, not only to improve individual patient outcomes but also to broadly enhance public health.