title: [Association between skin tags and insulin resistance].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Skin tags are dermatological lesions commonly found in the general population and have been associated with diabetes mellitus, obesity, insulin resistance and atherosclerosis. Early detection of patients with insulin resistance may play an important preventive role.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association between skin tags in the neck or axillary regions and insulin resistance.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study involving adult patients receiving care at a university teaching hospital. Cases were defined as patients with > 5 skin tags in the neck region and/or axillae. Insulin resistance was estimated using the HOMA-IR index. Results were adjusted for the other known covariates of risk for insulin resistance using a multiple logistic regression model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-eight cases and 103 controls were evaluated. There was no difference between the groups with respect to age or gender. Skin tags were directly associated with HOMA-IR values (odds ratio = 1.4), hypertriglyceridemia and body mass index, irrespective of adjustment for diabetes mellitus, age, skin phototype, gender, family history of diabetes mellitus or hip/waist ratio. Qualitatively elevated HOMA-IR levels (>3.8) were also significantly associated (odds ratio = 7.5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of multiple skin tags was strongly associated with insulin resistance irrespective of other risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Andréia de Almeida
authors.initials: Ade A
authors.lastname: Tamega
authors.forename: Adriana Milanezi Pinheiro
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Aranha
authors.forename: Marcelo Massaki
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Guiotoku
authors.forename: Luciane Donida Bartoli
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Miot
authors.forename: Hélio Amante
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Miot
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010212:Papilloma / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*