Analysis of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients with Psoriasis: A Cross-Sectional Study

TL;DR

This study found that psoriasis patients have higher atherosclerotic risk factors and thicker carotid walls than controls, but arthritis status did not further increase the risk.

Contribution

The study provides new evidence on cardiovascular risk in psoriasis patients, showing no added risk from arthritis.

Findings

Psoriasis patients had higher rates of diabetes and hypertension compared to controls.

Carotid intima-media thickness was significantly greater in psoriasis patients.

No significant differences were found between psoriasis patients with and without arthritis.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate and compare atherosclerotic risk factors and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) between psoriasis patients with and without arthritis.

Data on demographics, clinical characteristics, comorbidities, and treatments were collected in the medical charts. Laboratory assessments, including lipid profile and fasting glucose, were performed, along with cIMT measurements via ultrasound.

A total of 127 participants were analysed, including 49 controls and 78 psoriasis patients (47 with psoriatic arthritis and 31 without). Psoriasis patients exhibited a higher frequency of diabetes (OR=2.3; 95% CI=1.009–5.08) and hypertension (OR=6.8; 95% CI=1.7–30.8) compared to controls. Additionally, cIMT values were significantly elevated in psoriasis patients compared to controls (median 0.68 mm vs. 0.57 mm, p=0.001). However, no significant differences in traditional atherosclerotic risk factors or cIMT measurements were observed between psoriasis patients with and without arthritis (all p>0.05).

Psoriasis patients, regardless of arthritis status, exhibit increased atherosclerotic risk compared to controls. However, in this sample, it was not possible to prove that the presence of arthritis further exacerbates this risk.

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