In a prospective study published in Experimental Dermatology, researchers investigated the association between psoriasis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in the US general population. Lead authors Junyan Kan, Qitao Chen, and colleagues, gathered data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Among 19,741 participants, 2.7% had psoriasis. After adjusting for known CVD risk factors, patients with psoriasis showed higher odds of hypertension (OR=1.37, 95% CI, 1.13-1.66, P=0.001), hypercholesterolemia (OR=1.37, 95% CI, 1.13-1.64, P<0.001), and angina pectoris (OR=1.74, 95% CI, 1.11-2.60, P=0.011). Compared with those with no psoriasis, moderate/severe psoriasis was associated with significantly higher CVD mortality (HR=2.55, 95% CI, 1.27-5.15, P=0.009). Mild psoriasis, however, was not significantly associated with CVD mortality. Mediation analysis showed that the direct effect of moderate/severe psoriasis on CVD mortality accounted for most of the association, with potential indirect effects through disturbance of serum albumin, urea nitrogen, and uric acid. Given their findings, the researchers emphasized the importance of regular cardiovascular examinations for patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis.
