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Measuring Psoriasis Severity at Home
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Cardiovascular disease and risk factors in patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis

Anne-Marie Tobin1, Douglas J Veale, Oliver Fitzgerald

  • 1Department of Dermatology, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland. tobin.annemarie@gmail.com

The Journal of Rheumatology
|May 18, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis face higher cardiovascular disease risks. This includes common factors like hypertension and less common ones like high homocysteine, requiring physician awareness.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Cardiology
  • Rheumatology

Background:

  • Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are linked to increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence.
  • Patients exhibit higher rates of conventional risk factors (smoking, hypertension, metabolic syndrome).
  • Nonconventional risk factors like elevated homocysteine and alcohol consumption may also contribute.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To comprehensively review the literature on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and associated risk factors in psoriasis and PsA patients.

Main Methods:

  • A Medline search identified studies comparing CVD and risk factors in psoriasis/PsA patients versus healthy controls.
  • Included studies were published between 1975-2009 and written in English.

Main Results:

  • 14 studies documented elevated CVD rates in psoriasis and PsA patients compared to controls.
  • Substantial evidence indicates an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in these patient populations.

Conclusions:

  • The exact causal relationship between psoriasis/PsA and risk factors remains unclear.
  • Physicians must remain vigilant regarding all potential cardiovascular risks in patients with psoriasis and PsA.
Abstract

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