Psoriasis as a cardiovascular risk factor: updates and algorithmic approach

Psoriasis comorbid with atherosclerosis meets in lipid metabolism

Psoriasis (PSO) is a common skin disease affecting approximately 1%-3% of the population, and the incidence rate is increasing yearly. PSO is associated with a dramatically increased risk of cardiovascular disease, the most common of which is atherosclerosis (AS). In the past, inflammation was considered to be the triggering factor of the two comorbidities, but in recent years, studies have found that lipid metabolism disorders increase the probability of atherosclerosis in patients with psoriasis. In this review, we discuss epidemiological studies, clinical treatment methods, risk factors, and lipid metabolism of psoriasis and atherosclerosis comorbidities.

Carotid intima-media thickness in adults with and without psoriasis - a nested case-control study from baseline data of ELSA-Brasil cohort

There is a lack of consensus about the association between psoriasis (PSO) and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in literature, since previous studies considered dermatologic clinic patients or general population. This study aimed to compare cIMT levels according to PSO in a sample of 10,530 civil servants form the ELSA-Brasil cohort study and analyze its association with the disease. The PSO cases and disease duration were identified by medical diagnosis self-reported at study enrollment. A paired group was identified by propensity score matching among all the participants without PSO. Mean cIMT values were considered for continuous analysis while cIMT above 75th percentile was considered for categorical analysis. Multivariate conditional regression models were used to analyze association between cIMT and PSO diagnosis, by comparing PSO cases against paired controls and overall sample without disease. A total of n = 162 PSO cases were identified (1.54%) and no difference in cIMT values was observed between participants with PSO and overall sample or control group. PSO was not associated with linear increment of cIMT (vs. overall sample: β = 0.003, p = 0.690; vs. matched controls: β = 0.004, p = 0.633) neither with increased chance of having cIMT above 75th percentile (vs. overall sample: OR = 1.06, p = 0.777; vs. matched controls: OR = 1.19, p = 0.432; conditional regression: OR = 1.31, p = 0.254). There was no relationship between disease duration and cIMT (β = 0.000, p = 0.627). Although no significant relationship between mild cases of psoriasis and cIMT was observed among a wide cohort of civil servants, longitudinal investigation about cIMT progression and severity of disease are still needed.

Increased serum level of N-terminal Pro-B-type natriuretic peptide in psoriatic patients: a single-center study

BACKGROUND

Psoriasis is associated with multiple comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease. Identifying biomarkers such as N-terminal fragment of the BNP precursor (NT-pro-BNP) with preventive, diagnostic, and prognostic implications in the cardiovascular diseases of psoriatic patients may be helpful in these patient's management. However, their predictive ability for future cardiovascular events in psoriatic patients is still unknown. Therefore, the study aimed to determine whether NT-pro-BNP levels were increased in psoriatic patients.

METHODS

One hundred forty psoriatic patients without cardiovascular disease and 140 healthy control patients were enrolled.

RESULTS

The NT-pro-BNP level was significantly correlated with lipid profile but not with disease duration; or the ongoing biologic therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Our work demonstrates that pro-BNP values are higher in patients with psoriasis than in controls and emphasizes the correlation between psoriasis and cardiovascular disease and the importance of biomarkers that can identify those patients most at risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Prevalence of psoriasis and associated risk factors in China: protocol of a nationwide, population-based, cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease which could lead to serious complications and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Psoriasis was recognised as a serious non-communicable disease with important public health impact by member states in the World Health Assembly resolution in 2014. However, data on psoriasis epidemiology are scarce worldwide, especially from low-income and middle-income countries. Only a few epidemiological studies on psoriasis have been conducted in parts of China, mostly without appropriate sampling design and data analysis.

AIM

This study aims to obtain the prevalence of psoriasis in China and relevant risk factors through a nationwide, population-based study with adequate statistical design.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This is a cross-sectional study to be conducted in 60 sites across China. A multistage, cluster random sampling design is used. Participants should have local household registration or be residing in the survey area for at least 6 months during the past year. The presence of psoriasis is ascertained independently by two certified dermatologists. If any discrepancies in the diagnosis occur, consensus will be met via discussion. All participants will be interviewed with a questionnaire to collect sociodemographic and disease information. The field survey will be implemented from October 2018 to June 2019. All statistical analyses will be conducted using survey procedures in SAS V.9.2 software to adjust for the complex sample design.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study has been reviewed and approved by the ethics committee of the Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (Nanjing, China). A written informed consent will be obtained from all participants before the questionnaire survey. Findings of the study will be disseminated through publications in peer-reviewed journals.