Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Measuring Psoriasis Severity at Home
02:28

Measuring Psoriasis Severity at Home

Published on: March 1, 2024

Psoriasis: cardiovascular risk factors and other disease comorbidities

Ying Wu1, Douglas Mills, Mohan Bala

  • 1Centocor, Inc, Malvern, PA 19355, USA. YWu3@cntus.jnj.com

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology : JDD
|May 8, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Patients with psoriasis have significantly higher rates of cardiovascular disease risk factors and other health conditions like arthritis and depression compared to the general population. This study highlights the increased comorbidity burden in psoriasis patients.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Cardiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Psoriasis is increasingly recognized as a systemic inflammatory disease.
  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and other comorbidities are suspected to be more prevalent in psoriasis patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between psoriasis and cardiovascular disease.
  • To identify other comorbidities prevalent in patients with psoriasis.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study utilizing data from the National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS).
  • Analysis included 1127 patients with psoriasis and a matched cohort of non-psoriasis patients from 40,730 participants.
  • Data collected in May and June 2004.

Main Results:

  • Psoriasis patients showed significantly higher rates of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes.
  • Psoriasis was also significantly associated with arthritis, depression, sleep disorders, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.
  • These findings confirm a higher comorbidity burden in individuals with psoriasis.

Conclusions:

  • Patients with psoriasis exhibit a greater prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities.
  • This underscores the importance of screening for and managing systemic conditions in psoriasis management.
  • Further research into the underlying mechanisms connecting psoriasis and comorbidities is warranted.

Related Concept Videos

Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease01:27

Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease

Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is a multidisciplinary field that examines how psychological factors, particularly stress, interact with the immune system and impact physical health. Research in PNI has shown that chronic or traumatic stress can disrupt both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. These disruptions contribute to serious health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases.
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction01:30

Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): An Overview with Scientific InsightsCoronary Artery Disease (CAD), often referred to as C-A-D, is a prevalent blood vessel disorder classified under the broader category of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a pathological process characterized by the hardening and narrowing of arteries due to the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaques. These plaques are composed of cholesterol, fatty substances, inflammatory cells, calcium, and fibrin, reducing blood flow to...
Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures01:26

Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures

Effective preventive measures for coronary artery disease (CAD) focus on controlling modifiable risk factors, including cholesterol abnormalities and lifestyle changes.Cholesterol ManagementFirst, the Mediterranean diet and the American Heart Association advocate for maintaining low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels below 100 mg/dL, with a more stringent recommendation of below 70 mg/dL for individuals at high risk. LDL cholesterol, often termed "bad cholesterol," can lead to the...
Atherosclerosis III: Management01:26

Atherosclerosis III: Management

Management of atherosclerosis involves an integrated strategy encompassing pharmacological treatment, surgical interventions, lifestyle changes, and nutrition therapy to address the multifactorial nature of the disease.Pharmacological TherapyA cornerstone of atherosclerosis management is the use of pharmacological agents. Statins, such as atorvastatin, are pivotal in inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that catalyzes an initial step in cholesterol synthesis in the liver. This reduction in...
Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:22

Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

The key clinical manifestations of Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) include several distinct cardiac symptoms.Carditis, a hallmark of acute rheumatic fever, involves inflammation of the heart's endocardium, myocardium, and pericardium. Chronic RHD often results from recurrent episodes of carditis. Its symptoms include the following:Murmurs are caused by valvular damage, especially to the mitral and aortic valves. Mitral stenosis or regurgitation is common, with characteristic heart murmurs...
Rheumatic Heart Disease III: Medical Management01:21

Rheumatic Heart Disease III: Medical Management

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) management can be divided into two main strategies: prevention and long-term management.Primary PreventionPrimary prevention focuses on timely diagnosis and management of group A streptococcal pharyngitis to prevent acute rheumatic fever. The most widely used antibiotic for treating this condition is intramuscular benzathine penicillin G.Acute Rheumatic Fever TreatmentThe primary treatment goal for a patient diagnosed with acute rheumatic fever is to suppress the...