Metabolic Syndrome and Psoriasis: A Case-Control Study in Kabul, Afghanistan

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that is not limited to the skin. Recently, numerous studies have shown a positive association between metabolic syndrome and psoriasis.

The current study aimed to examine the association of metabolic syndrome with psoriasis in an Afghan population.

This was a case- control study including 114 patients with psoriasis and 114 controls aged ≥18 years admitted to the dermatology department of Maiwand Teaching Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan. Height, weight, blood pressure, and waist circumference were measured in all subjects. Blood glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were tested following overnight fasting. The modified National Cholesterol Education Program - Adult Treatment Panel III criteria were used for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome.

In total, 51.8% of the cases and 44.7% of the controls were male. The average age of participants was 33.4±13.1 years in the case group and 41.1±15.4 years in the control group. The average duration of disease for psoriasis was 4.2 years with 5.6 years SD. The average PASI was 10.8 with 5.1 SD. More than half of the cases (62.3%) had moderate to severe psoriasis and 37.7% had mild psoriasis. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was higher among patients with psoriasis compared to controls (36.8% vs 21.1%) with OR of 2.18 (p=0.009). In addition, overweight/obesity was more prevalent among cases compared to controls (65.8% vs 41.2%) with OR of 2.74 (p<0.001), whereas the waist circumference was not significantly different between the two groups. Furthermore, the mean levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and fasting blood glucose were also higher among patients with psoriasis compared to controls.

The results of the study confirm the association between psoriasis and metabolic syndrome. Hence, screening psoriatic patients for metabolic syndrome should be considered.