Assessment of Framingham risk score and systemic coronary risk evaluation in rosacea patients

Abstract

Abstract Background/Objective(s) Although some studies with contrary results have been reported, recent studies suggest an association between rosacea and cardiovascular diseases. However, no study has investigated the frequency of cardiovascular risk in rosacea patients using a validated scale. We aimed to determine the frequency of cardiovascular risk by the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) and Systemic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) in rosacea patients. Methods We conducted a case–control study including 85 rosacea patients and 90 controls. Demographic information, rosacea duration (obtained by self-report of the patients) and subtype, smoking history, lipid parameters, blood pressure, use of antihypertensive drug, fasting blood glucose, body mass index, family history of coronary artery disease, presence of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, and total points of the FRS and SCORE were recorded. Results Eighty-five rosacea patients (65 females and 20 males; mean age, 50.63 years) and 90 controls (67 females and 23 males; mean age, 50.79 years) were included in the study. Of the 85 rosacea patients, 44 had the erythematotelangiectatic type and 41 had the papulopustular type. The mean SCORE and FRS levels were not significantly different between the rosacea and control groups. Ten patients (12.5% vs. 11.8%) were estimated to be at high risk by both the SCORE and FRS models. The SCORE levels correlated with the rosacea duration. The patients with the papulopustular type had significantly higher cardiovascular risk than those with the erythematotelangiectatic type. Conclusion Rosacea patients did not have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, as estimated by the two validated models. However, further studies are needed with the four subtypes of rosacea to evaluate cardiovascular risk factors separately.