Incidence and prevalence of psoriasis in Israel between 2011 and 2017

Background Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease associated with a heavy burden of morbidity, disability and cost. The occurrence of the disease in Israel has not been previously investigated. Objectives To provide standardized estimates of trends in psoriasis incidence, prevalence and mortality among patients in Israel between 2011 and 2017. Methods Using electronic health records from Clalit Health Services, the largest nationwide public health provider in Israel, we conducted a population-based study investigating trends in the annual incidence and prevalence of psoriasis between the years 2011 and 2017. We report age- and sex-adjusted rates, using the standard European population as a reference. Results We identified 71 094 incident psoriasis cases. The mean (SD) age of onset was 42.4 (21.0) years with a bimodal distribution, peaking in the early '30s and early '60s. Late-onset psoriasis, occurring after 40 years of age, accounted for 51.1% of incident cases. The annual psoriasis incidence rate was constant throughout the study period (280/100 000 person-years). Psoriasis prevalence rose from 2.5% in 2011 to 3.8% in 2017. Conclusions Psoriasis prevalence is increasing in Israel, although its incidence is stable. Clinicians and policymakers should plan to address the growing demands in the clinical, economic and societal burden of psoriasis.