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Published on: March 1, 2024
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Revisiting the Association Between Beta-blockers and Psoriasis: Evidence from Real-World Data.
Xiulan Zheng1, Jian Sun2, Zhen Wang3
1School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China.
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders Drug Targets
|August 28, 2025
Summary
Beta-blocker use does not appear to increase psoriasis risk, contrary to some reports. This study found no significant association, suggesting current clinical labeling may be inappropriate.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Dermatology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Beta-blockers are sometimes anecdotally linked to psoriasis development or worsening.
- Existing pharmacoepidemiology studies present conflicting findings on this association.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential association between beta-blocker use and the risk of developing psoriasis.
- To clarify conflicting results from previous pharmacoepidemiology studies.
Main Methods:
- Observational study using the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database.
- Propensity score matching and multivariable logistic regression analyses.
- Disproportionality analysis of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database.
- Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study.
Main Results:
- Logistic regression on NHANES data showed no significant association between beta-blocker use and psoriasis risk (OR: 1.49, p=0.250).
- FAERS analysis revealed no robust safety signals for beta-blockers concerning psoriasis (ROR: 0.34).
- Meta-analysis of MR results indicated a statistically significant association between beta-blocker use and a reduced risk of psoriasis (OR: 0.9985, p<0.001).
Conclusions:
- The epidemiological association is likely due to confounding factors, such as cardiovascular indications for beta-blockers.
- Neuroimmune pathways offer biologically plausible but complex mechanisms requiring further research.
- Beta-blockers do not significantly elevate psoriasis risk, and labeling them as a cause of drug-induced psoriasis may be inappropriate.
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