Systemic comorbidities associated with rosacea: a multicentric retrospective observational study

Once considered a disorder limited to the skin, rosacea is now known to be associated with systemic disorders. The aim of this study was to determine what systemic comorbidities accompany rosacea and to determine the relationship between the type, severity, and duration of rosacea, and the presence of and type of systemic comorbidities.

This retrospective multicenter study was conducted by the Turkish Society of Dermatology Acne Study Group. Thirteen dermatology clinics throughout Turkey participated in the study. A structured physician-administered questionnaire was used to collect patient demographics, clinical findings, and lifestyle data. The principal rosacea subtype, physician global assessment of severity, and duration of rosacea were recorded. Physicians recorded each participant's medical history, including current and past comorbidities, duration of any such comorbidity, and the use of medications to treat any comorbidities.

The study included 1,195 rosacea patients and 621 controls without rosacea aged 18-85 years. As compared to the controls, more of the rosacea patients had respiratory tract, gastrointestinal system, and metabolic and hepatobiliary system disorders in a rosacea's severity- and duration-dependent manner.

Clinicians must be aware of the potential for systemic comorbidities in rosacea patients, which becomes more likely as disease duration and severity increase.