title: Cardiovascular disease event rates in patients with severe psoriasis treated with systemic anti-inflammatory drugs: a Danish real-world cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disorder associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Systemic anti-inflammatory drugs, including biological agents, are widely used in the treatment of patients with moderate to severe psoriasis and may attenuate the risk of cardiovascular disease events. We therefore examined the rate of cardiovascular disease events in patients with severe psoriasis treated with systemic anti-inflammatory drugs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individual-level linkage of nationwide administrative databases was used to assess the event rates associated with use of biological agents, methotrexate or other therapies, including retinoids, cyclosporine and phototherapy, in Denmark from 2007 to 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  Death, myocardial infarction and stroke.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 2400 patients with severe psoriasis, including 693 patients treated with biological agents and 799 treated with methotrexate, were identified. Incidence rates per 1000 patient-years and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the composite endpoint were 6.0 (95% CI 2.7-13.4), 17.3 (95% CI 12.3-24.3) and 44.5 (95% CI 34.6-57.0) for patients treated with biological agents, methotrexate and other therapies, respectively. Age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were 0.28 (95% CI 0.12-0.64) and 0.65 (95% CI 0.42-1.00) for patients treated with biological agents and methotrexate, respectively, using other therapies as the reference cohort. Corresponding HRs for a secondary composite endpoint of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction and stroke were 0.48 (95% CI 0.17-1.38) and 0.50 (95% CI 0.26-0.97).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this nationwide study of patients with severe psoriasis, systemic anti-inflammatory treatment with biological agents or methotrexate was associated with lower cardiovascular disease event rates compared to patients treated with other anti-psoriatic therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte, Hellerup, Denmark. olahha01@geh.regionh.dk
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ahlehoff
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Skov
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gislason
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lindhardsen
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Kristensen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Iversen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lasthein
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gniadecki
authors.forename: T N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Dam
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Torp-Pedersen
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003718:Denmark; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D008727:Methotrexate