A clear bimodal age pattern exists in psoriasis onset, and prevalence shows an increasing trend with age until 60 or 70 years, according to a review published in the February issue of the British Journal of Dermatology.

Ireny Y.K. Iskandar, Ph.D., from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, and colleagues conducted a systematic review to examine variations in psoriasis incidence and prevalence with age and between genders. Data were included from 90 studies from 22 countries.

The researchers confirmed a clear bimodal age pattern in psoriasis onset using incidence data, with the first and second peaks at ages 30 to 39 and 60 to 69 years, respectively. Evidence suggests that psoriasis presents slightly earlier in women than men. An increasing trend in prevalence was seen with age until around age 60 to 70 years based on prevalence data, with a decrease thereafter. A slight male predominance was reported in several studies, although there was a lack of agreement on specific gender differences in psoriasis incidence and prevalence. A stable or slightly decreasing trend was seen in psoriasis incidence worldwide, while an increasing trend in prevalence has been reported consistently.

“There is a need for future international research collaborations using standardized methodology, and reporting of the incidence and prevalence of the disease by age bands and genders, to address knowledge gaps that still exist,” the authors write.

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