title: Metabolic syndrome prevalence in psoriasis: a cross-sectional study in the Italian population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The pathogenesis of psoriasis is complex, with a significant role suggested for pro-inflammatory mediators. There is strong evidence of an association between psoriasis and the metabolic syndrome (MetS), a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors, which impose a substantial disease burden.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of MetS and to examine the implications of disease severity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease in a large cohort of Italian psoriatic patients representative of the whole population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study involving 13 dermatological clinics in Italy. The primary study endpoint was a comparison of the prevalence of MetS between psoriatic patients and a non-psoriatic control group; secondary endpoints included the influence of psoriasis severity on the prevalence of MetS, and the relative prevalence and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disorders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 720 patients were enrolled (n = 360 per group). The prevalence of MetS was 26.84% in the psoriatic population and 15.16% in the control population (p = 0.0001; adjusted odds ratio 1.96). MetS was associated with a greater degree of psoriasis severity, and the prevalence and risk of diabetes tended to be higher in psoriatic patients than in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the Italian population, the prevalence of MetS and associated comorbidities is elevated in patients with psoriasis compared with non-psoriatic subjects, as has been demonstrated in other countries. Our findings reinforce the importance of considering the implications of metabolic comorbidities in treating patients with psoriasis.
authors.affiliation: Section of Dermatology, Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute (DISSAL), University of Genoa and S. Martino University Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parodi
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aste
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Calvieri
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cantoresi
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carlesimo
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fabbri
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Filosa
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galluccio
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lisi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Micali
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Potenza
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Richetta
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simonacci
authors.forename: Piergiusto
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Trevisan
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valenti
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Calvieri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index