The prevalence of psoriasis in Denmark

A representative random sample comprising approximately 4000 Danes, 16-99 years old, were questioned as to present or previous psoriasis eruption by non-medical, professional interviewers. Based on the information obtained, the point prevalence for men was 4.2%, for women 3.3%. 88% of those who believed themselves to be suffering from psoriasis stated that they had been treated by doctors for psoriasis and 71% by dermatologists and/or dermatological departments. The difference found between men and women is not statistically significant. The actual prevalence has been adjusted according to an estimated overcalculation of some 25% based on the number of false-positive answers to questionnaires in a twin study. The prevalence for men is thus adjusted to 3.2% and for women to 2.5%. The number of adult psoriatics in Denmark is estimated at approximately 113,000, of whom 71,000 suffer from mild psoriasis and 42,000 from more severe psoriasis.