title: Excessive body weight and smoking associates with a high risk of onset of plaque psoriasis.
abstract: Accumulating evidence indicates that body weight, alcohol and smoking are associated with psoriasis. However, these factors have scarcely been investigated in relation to onset and disease activity at onset of psoriasis. A population-based case-control study was performed including 373 cases with onset of first-time plaque psoriasis within 12 months and matched healthy controls. Psoriasis activity was measured using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). Analyses were performed using conditional logistic regression. In multivariable analyses for each unit increment in body mass index, there was statistically significant 9% increased risk for psoriasis onset and 7% higher risk for increased PASI. Obesity (body mass index > or =30) compared with normal body weight was associated with a two-fold increased risk for psoriasis onset. Smoking was associated with a 70% increased risk for onset, but was not related to PASI. A positive association with alcohol drinking was observed among men, but not among women. No associations were observed for weight gain and use of smokeless tobacco. Our results indicate that excessive body weight and smoking are risk factors for onset of psoriasis and that higher body mass index increases the PASI of plaque psoriasis at onset.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Dermatology and Venereology, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. katarina.wolk@ki.se
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wolk
authors.forename: Lotus
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mallbris
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosenblad
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vingård
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ståhle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless / Q000009:adverse effects; D015430:Weight Gain; D055815:Young Adult