Psoriasis and cardiovascular risk factors

 

Cardiovascular risk factors more prevalent in psoriatics
A UK population-based study (1) identified 128.000 patients with mild psoriasis and 3854 with severe psoriasis. The risk factors studied were diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity and smoking.

 

The respective prevalence rates of these risk factors were significant elevated in psoriatics compared to controls. Additionally, diabetes and obesity were more prevalent in those with severe psoriasis than with mild psoriasis. Thus CV risk factors are associated with psoriasis, and also, as key components of the metabolic syndrome, more strongly associated with severe psoriasis than with mild psoriasis.

 

Psoriasis an independent risk factor for myocardial infarction
A population-based case-control study (2), also in the UK, concluded that patients with psoriasis have a significant increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI) independent of traditional CV risk factors. The study included more than 130 000 patients and five times as many controls.
 
The risk was particular great for younger patients and for patients with severe psoriasis. As patients got older, the risk seemed to go down closer to baseline by the time they reached their 70s.

 

The risk of MI was significant in the psoriasis patients when adjusting for the risk factors age, diabetes, MI history, dyslipidemia, hypertension, sex, and smoking status. However, the patients with psoriasis were significant more likely to have many cardiovascular risk factors, such as diabetes, dyslipidemia, to have hypertension and to be male and smokers.

 

Screen patients for risk factors
Summarised from these two studies, physicians who see patients with psoriasis, particular young patients, should screen them for cardiovascular risk factors and encourage patients to manage those of the risk factors, which can be modified.