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Published on: March 1, 2024
Evaluation of Atherosclerosis Risk in Patients with Psoriasis
Lutfullah Celik1, Anil Akray2, Yasargul Denli1
1Cukurova University, Medical School, Department of Dermatology, Adana, Turkey.
Insights
Psoriasis patients show increased carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), a marker of atherosclerosis. This risk is higher with longer disease duration and smoking, necessitating regular cardiovascular monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Dermatology
- Public Health
Background:
- Psoriasis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease extending beyond the skin.
- Atherosclerosis in psoriasis patients increases risks of severe cardiovascular events like stroke and myocardial infarction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate atherosclerosis risk in psoriasis patients.
- To measure carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) as a marker for atherosclerosis in this population.
Main Methods:
- Included 70 plaque psoriasis patients and 50 healthy controls (ages 18-65).
- Excluded patients using systemic treatment within 6 months.
- Measured CIMT using B-mode ultrasonography, with manual measurements by a single cardiologist.
Main Results:
- Psoriasis patients exhibited significantly higher CIMT (median 0.8 mm) compared to controls (median 0.6 mm).
- Significant correlations found between CIMT and age, BMI, smoking, waist/hip circumference, HbA1c, total cholesterol, and triglycerides.
- Multivariate analysis identified cigarette use and disease duration as significant predictors of CIMT, with PASI showing a trend.
Conclusions:
- Psoriasis patients demonstrate elevated CIMT, indicating increased atherosclerosis risk.
- The increase in CIMT is exacerbated by disease duration and smoking.
- Regular atherosclerosis screening and follow-up are recommended for psoriasis patients, particularly smokers and those with long-standing disease.
Background:
Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disease with a chronic course that is not limited to the skin. Atherosclerosis can cause serious cardiovascular events such as cerebrovascular stroke and myocardial infarction, which can result in death. This study aimed to examine the atherosclerosis risk in psoriasis patients by measuring the carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), an important marker of atherosclerosis.
Methods:
The study included 70 plaque psoriasis patients (41 male and 29 female) and 50 healthy volunteers (30 male and 20 female) between the ages of 18 and 65, from the Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine Department of Dermatology who did not use any systemic treatment in the previous 6 months. Clinical parameters were recorded. The presence of subclinical atherosclerosis was investigated by measuring carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). CIMT was measured manually by the same cardiologist using B-mode ultrasonography.
Results:
The median value of the CIMT measured individuals in the patient group was 0.8 mm (min: 0.5-max:1.4), and individuals in the control group was 0.6 mm (min: 0.4-max: 0.95). CIMT value in the patient group was statistically significantly higher than in the control group (p<0.001). A statistically significant relationship was found between age, body mass index, cigarette use, waist and hip circumference, HBA1C, total cholesterol, triglycerides, duration. In multivariate linear regression analysis, cigarette use (p = 0.001) and disease duration (p = 0.024) remained significant, while the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) showed a trend toward significance (p = 0.071).
Conclusion:
Our study revealed that CIMT value increases in psoriasis patients. It can be said that this increase in CIMT is more serious in the presence of PASI, disease duration and smoking. In conclusion, psoriasis patients-especially those who smoke and those with a longer disease duration-should be regularly investigated and followed up for atherosclerosis.
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