Psoriasis was associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in a US outpatient population, according to a study published in JAMA Dermatology. Researchers used data from an outpatient sample of 5,672 US adults (aged 20-59) participating in the NHANES 2003-2006 and 2009-2014 cycles to examine associations between psoriasis and NAFLD. Those with psoriasis had a higher prevalence of NAFLD (32.7% vs 26.6%) compared with participants without psoriasis. Psoriasis was associated with NAFLD (OR, 1.67) when adjusting for age, sex, race and ethnicity, educational level, family income, marital status, NHANES cycles, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and smoking and alcohol drinking status. Psoriasis was also associated with NAFLD among men (OR, 2.16), those aged 20-39 (OR, 2.48), and those without diabetes (OR, 1.70). “Because some antipsoriatic agents are potentially hepatotoxic, the association between psoriasis and NAFLD in US adults found in this study may be worth considering in psoriasis management,” the study authors wrote.
