Cardiovascular disease and risk factors in patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
Patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) have an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome compared to the normal population. Patients with psoriasis and PsA may also have increased risk from nonconventional risk factors such as raised levels of homocysteine and excessive alcohol consumption. We conducted a comprehensive review of the literature on CVD and all cardiovascular risk factors in patients with psoriasis and PsA.


METHODS



METHODS
All studies identified from a Medline (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) search pertaining to CVD, individual risk factors in psoriasis, and PsA were included.


METHODS
Studies included a healthy reference population, were published between 1975 and 2009, and were written in English.


RESULTS
Our search yielded 14 studies that documented rates of CVD in patients with psoriasis and PsA compared to controls. Substantial evidence points to elevated risk of CVD in patients with psoriasis and PsA.


CONCLUSIONS
It remains difficult to conclude if risk factors are caused by psoriasis or share a common pathogenesis. Physicians treating patients with psoriasis and PsA must be aware of all potential cardiovascular risk factors in their patients.
Tobin
Anne-Marie
AM
Department of Dermatology, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland. tobin.annemarie@gmail.com
Veale
Douglas J
DJ
Fitzgerald
Oliver
O
Rogers
Sarah
S
Collins
Paul
P
O'Shea
Donal
D
Kirby
Brian
B
D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000150:complications*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology; D016239:MEDLINE; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000150:complications*; D012196:Review Literature as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects