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Prevalence and clinical features of psoriatic arthritis and joint complaints: Results from a German national survey

A German noninterventional, cross-sectional, multicenter observational study in 2,009 patients with psoriasis was conducted in 2007. The aim was to determine the prevalence and clinical features of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and joint complaints in these patients. Data were obtained from 13 dermatological hospitals and 129 dermatological private practice and outpatient clinics in Germany. The prevalence of PsA was 19.6%; 7.7% had intermittent and nonspecific joint symptoms not clearly attributable to PsA. Approximately half the patients with PsA had at least one swollen joint and the majority (84.9%) had joint pain. The mean number of swollen joints was 6.8 in affected patients. A significant number of patients suspected of having joint involvement had ...