A case-control study of frequency of occurrence of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with psoriasis

Abstract

Objectives Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease. Nowadays, its association with metabolic and vascular disorders is increasingly recognized.  The study was conducted to know the association of psoriasis with metabolic syndrome (MS). Methods A hospital-based case-control study was conducted. Fifty psoriatic patients and 48 controls were recruited. Data collected included disease duration, history of smoking/alcoholism, type and severity of psoriasis, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure and body surface area (BSA) involvement,. Fasting blood glucose and lipid profile were measured in all patients. MS was diagnosed in presence of ≥3 criteria of the ATP III criteria. Results Patients had mild to severe psoriasis (PASI score 8.3-47). BSA affected ranged from 10% to 90%. The prevalence of MS was higher in psoriatic patients as compared to controls, but without statistical significance (12% vs. 6%, OR: 2.21, p: 0.48). MS components analyzed separately, showed a significantly higher prevalence of overweight/obesity (26% vs. 14.58% in controls), raised triglyceride levels (28% vs. 22.9%), arterial hypertension (24% vs. 12.5%), hyperglycemia (26% vs. 10.4%), hypercholesterolemia (8% vs. 2%), raised LDL levels (24% vs. 16.6%) and hypo  HDL cholesterolemia  (82% vs. 60.4%) in psoriatic patients than the controls. History of smoking (OR=4.91) and alcoholism (OR=2.75) was significantly higher in psoriasis patients. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate a possible association between psoriasis and MS which can favor cardiovascular events. Dermatologists treating psoriasis patients should be aware of the development of these cardiovascular risk factors and advise patients to decrease additional risk factors such as smoking or obesity.