Clinical, Epidemiologic, and Therapeutic Characterization of Pediatric Psoriasis in the Costa Rican Social Security System

Pediatric psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory dermatosis associated with physical, psychosocial, and metabolic comorbidity burden beginning early in life. Epidemiologic and clinical data in Latin American pediatric populations remain limited, particularly in real-world care settings. This study is a retrospective observational characterization of pediatric psoriasis patients managed in the Costa Rican Social Security System. Unlike interventional trials or biologic-specific registries, it analyzes existing clinical records to describe demographic distribution, clinical subtypes, severity (PASI/BSA/DLQI or pediatric indices), comorbidities, and treatment patterns in routine practice. No therapeutic interventions or standardized follow-up are introduced. By capturing real-world pediatric psoriasis presentation and management in Costa Rica, the study provides baseline national evidence distinct from drug-specific or prospective therapeutic studies.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients younger than 18 years at the time of psoriasis diagnosis.
• Clinical diagnosis of psoriasis established by a specialist physician (dermatologist or trained pediatrician) or by a general practitioner within the Costa Rican Social Security System (CCSS).
• Patients evaluated in CCSS healthcare facilities between January 2018 and December 2025.
• Clinical records containing sufficient information on key epidemiologic and therapeutic variables relevant to the study (age, sex, date of diagnosis, clinical subtype, and treatment received).

Exclusion criteria

• Patients aged 18 years or older at the time of psoriasis diagnosis.
• Clinical records incomplete or lacking sufficient information for analysis of the main study variables.
• Patients with uncertain or unconfirmed diagnosis of psoriasis.