The Relationship of Obesity With the Severity of Psoriasis: A Systematic Review.
BACKGROUND
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with obesity. The increased production of adipocytokines in central adiposity contributes to the systemic inflammation of obesity and perhaps to psoriasis.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this systematic review is to determine the association of obesity with psoriasis severity.


METHODS
We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Database for English-language papers involving human subjects for all years. We extracted data on age, sex, body mass index (BMI), proportion obese, and psoriasis severity index score (PASI).


RESULTS
We identified 254 articles in our search and included 9. The sample size was 134 823 psoriasis patients. Seven of the 9 studies found a statistically significant association of increased psoriasis severity with higher BMI.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased severity of psoriasis appears to be associated with increased BMI. Most studies were cross-sectional or case-control, making it difficult to determine temporality. Dermatologists should consider recording BMI for psoriasis patients and offering them lifestyle counseling.
Division of Dermatology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada flemingp@mun.ca.
Patrick
P
Fleming
Lynde Dermatology (Private Practice), Markham, Canada.
John
J
Kraft
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada.
Wayne P
WP
Gulliver
Division of Dermatology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada Lynde Dermatology (Private Practice), Markham, Canada.
Charles
C
Lynde
D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000150:complications*
obesity; psoriasis