Cardiovascular risk profile in patients with psoriasis: A retrospective study

Abstract

Introduction: Various studies have reported a higher risk of cardiovascular morbidity in psoriasis but the effect of severity and duration of psoriasis; and gender on cardiovascular risk factors is not yet defined. Material and Methods: The present study included 436 clinically diagnosed patients of psoriasis attending our institution's psoriasis clinic, retrospectively from September 2008 onwards. Details of history, clinical examination and investigations were recorded from the proforma. Age, gender, duration of psoriasis, severity (body surface area [BSA] of involvement 10% - extensive and psoriasis area severity index), waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure and investigations were analysed. Results: There was no significant association of severity of psoriasis with diabetes, hypertension, raised waist circumference, raised triglyceride levels and low high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. A longer duration of psoriasis was significantly associated with high waist circumference ( P = 0.007), high BMI ( P = 0.013) and increased prevalence of hypertension ( P = 0.002). Obesity ( P = 0.003) and high waist circumference ( P = 0.00) were significantly more prevalent in females. Conclusion: All patients of psoriasis should be screened for markers of increased cardiovascular morbidity irrespective of gender and severity of psoriasis. Long standing psoriasis and female gender may carry higher risk of development of high waist circumference and obesity.