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Cardiovascular risk factors in high-need psoriasis patients and its implications for biological therapies

Rieke J B Driessen1, Jan B Boezeman, Peter C M Van De Kerkhof

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. R.Driessen@derma.umcn.nl

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment
|July 24, 2008
PubMed

Insights

High-need psoriasis patients exhibit elevated cardiovascular risk factors like obesity and hypertension. Regular cardiovascular risk assessment is crucial before and during systemic therapy, particularly biologics.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Cardiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Psoriasis severity correlates with increased cardiovascular risk.
  • High-need psoriasis patients, often candidates for biological therapy, warrant focused cardiovascular risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in high-need psoriasis patients.
  • To compare these prevalence rates with patients suffering from other dermatological conditions.
  • To discuss the implications for biologic therapy management.

Main Methods:

  • A questionnaire-based survey was administered to high-need psoriatic patients and a control group with other skin diseases.
  • Cardiovascular risk factors were systematically investigated within both cohorts.

Main Results:

  • High-need psoriasis patients demonstrated a significantly higher prevalence of obesity, smoking, and hypertension compared to controls.
  • Obesity, specifically, was prevalent in 35.5% of the high-need psoriasis cohort, with notable differences in body mass index.

Conclusions:

  • High-need psoriasis patients present a substantial burden of cardiovascular risk factors, suggesting a predisposition to cardiovascular diseases.
  • Systemic treatment, including biologics, necessitates pre-treatment and ongoing cardiovascular risk evaluation for effective management.
Abstract

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