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Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Measuring Psoriasis Severity at Home
02:28

Measuring Psoriasis Severity at Home

Published on: March 1, 2024

Psoriasis is not a useful independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease

Robert S Stern1

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA. rstern@bidmc.harvard.edu

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology
|March 17, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Psoriasis is unlikely to be a significant risk factor for myocardial infarction (MI) or cardiovascular disease (CVD). Even if an association exists, it is not considered clinically useful for predicting CVD risk.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Cardiology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • The hypothesis linking psoriasis to increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) has gained attention since 2006.
  • Sponsorship of research and symposia by biologic therapy manufacturers has advanced this hypothesis.
  • A clinical trial is investigating if TNF inhibitor therapy for psoriasis reduces cardiovascular risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the evidence regarding psoriasis as a risk factor for MI and CVD.
  • To determine if psoriasis is a clinically useful independent risk factor for CVD.

Main Methods:

  • Review and analysis of existing evidence on psoriasis, MI, and CVD.
  • Consideration of confounding factors and bias in previous studies.

Main Results:

  • New evidence suggests it is unlikely that psoriasis, even severe psoriasis, is a relevant risk factor for MI.
  • Even after accounting for confounding and bias, psoriasis is unlikely to be a clinically useful independent risk factor for CVD.

Conclusions:

  • The association between psoriasis and CVD risk, if present, is not clinically significant.
  • Further research is needed to clarify the complex relationship between psoriasis and cardiovascular health.

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