title: Psoriasis and comorbidities in a southern Brazilian population: a case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psoriasis is a chronic disease with worldwide prevalences of 0.6-4.8%. Its inherent chronic inflammatory component predisposes patients to cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the associations of psoriasis with comorbidities and health risk factors such as smoking and alcohol intake, and to examine demographic differences in its occurrence in a southern Brazil population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control study was conducted at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre between April 2009 and March 2011. The sample comprised 350 patients with psoriasis and 346 healthy control subjects. Data were collected using a standardized questionnaire. Tobacco load and alcohol consumption per person were investigated. Physical examination included blood pressure, waist circumference (WC), and body mass index (BMI) calculation. Clinical evaluation investigated whether psoriasis was localized or widespread and the percentage of body surface area (BSA) affected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Psoriasis patients exhibited an increased WC (P < 0.01) and BMI (P = 0.01) and higher incidences of smoking (P < 0.01) and depression (P < 0.01) than control subjects. A comparison of patients with involvement of <20% and >20% of BSA revealed significant differences in prevalences of hypertension (P = 0.03) and diabetes (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study demonstrated higher incidences of depression, increased WC, overweight, obesity, and smoking in psoriasis patients compared with controls. Patients with >20% of BSA affected were 1.69 times more likely to have hypertension and 2.9 times more likely to have diabetes. Healthcare providers should be alert to the increased cardiovascular risk and metabolic specificities of patients with psoriasis. Appropriate information on healthy lifestyle habits, including maintenance of a healthy weight and participation in physical exercise, and avoidance of alcohol and smoking are fundamental.
authors: School of Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul [UFRGS]), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Department of Dermatology, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Public Health Nursing Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors: Dóris B
authors: DB
authors: Menegon
authors: Ana G
authors: AG
authors: Pereira
authors: Anna C
authors: AC
authors: Camerin
authors: Tania
authors: T
authors: Cestari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055105:Waist Circumference