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Updated: May 14, 2026

Measuring Psoriasis Severity at Home
02:28

Measuring Psoriasis Severity at Home

Published on: March 1, 2024

Cardiovascular aspects of psoriasis: an updated review

Aldona Pietrzak1, Joanna Bartosińska, Grazyna Chodorowska

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland.

International Journal of Dermatology
|January 26, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Psoriasis patients face a higher risk of cardiovascular events, a serious concern for those with severe disease. Treating underlying inflammation may reduce this cardiovascular risk.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology and Cardiology
  • Systemic Inflammatory Diseases

Background:

  • Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disease linked to increased atherosclerosis and cardiovascular (CV) disease risk.
  • This association contributes to higher morbidity and mortality rates in psoriatic patients, particularly impacting younger individuals with severe disease and reducing life expectancy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review existing literature on cardiovascular disease in psoriasis.
  • To explore shared pathogenic mechanisms between psoriasis and atherosclerosis.
  • To conduct a meta-analysis of relevant studies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review on psoriasis and cardiovascular disease.
  • Identification and selection of case-control and cohort studies published between 2006 and 2011.
  • Meta-analysis to assess the risk of cardiovascular events.

Main Results:

  • Meta-analysis revealed an elevated risk of cardiovascular events in psoriatic patients compared to non-psoriatic controls (OR 1.28; 95% CI 1.18-1.38).

Conclusions:

  • The findings suggest a significant link between psoriasis and increased cardiovascular risk.
  • Targeting inflammatory processes common to both psoriasis and atherosclerosis may mitigate CV risk in psoriatic patients.
  • Further prospective research is essential for improved patient management.

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