Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with a global prevalence of 1-5%, however its clinical and demographic profile in Kenya remains underexplored. This article describes the establishment of the Kenyan Psoriasis Registry at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya.
Methods
214 subjects were enrolled between October 2024 and August 2025 at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. Both healthy controls and patients with psoriasis completed enrollment surveys and physical exams, and donated saliva samples.
Results
The initial cohort of 214 subjects (108 patients with psoriasis, 106 healthy controls) provides valuable insights into the demographics, clinical profiles, quality of life, and mental health characteristics of patients with psoriasis in Kenya. The mean age of psoriasis onset was 30.4 years, and mean age of diagnosis by a medical provider was 38.9 years old. 13.9% of patients with psoriasis reported a positive family history of psoriasis, and 9.3% of patients with psoriasis reported a diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis. The mean psoriasis area and severity index was 9.9 and mean Investigator Global assessment score was 3.0. Examination of treatment patterns revealed that moisturizers, prescription topical medications, and methotrexate were commonly tried while only 9.3% of individuals had ever received a biologic therapy. Patients with psoriasis reported significantly worse sleep disturbance, quality of life, and mental health compared to healthy controls.
Conclusion
This data highlights the unique characteristics of patients with psoriasis in Kenya. The Kenyan Psoriasis Registry continues to enroll patients and conduct yearly follow-ups, aiming to deepen the understanding of psoriasis in this population. These findings underscore the need for targeted research and advocacy to improve psoriasis care in Kenya.
