title: The relationship between body mass index, waist circumference and psoriatic arthritis in the Turkish population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory disease predominantly affecting the skin, with a complex aetiology. Recently it has been suggested that the chronic inflammation of psoriasis may cause metabolic and vascular disorders. The relationship between obesity and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is not clear, and there are insufficient prospective studies addressing this subject.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between psoriatic arthritis, severity of psoriasis and obesity in the Turkish population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient data from psoriasis outpatient clinics from February 2007 to July 2013 were reviewed retrospectively using the Psoriasis-Turkey (PSR-TR) registration system. Patients' age, onset age, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, psoriasis area and severity index (PASI), and arthritis information were reviewed. In the outpatient clinics, patients who had joint pain consulted rheumatology clinics. The CASPAR criteria were used for the diagnosis of arthritis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 443 males and 495 females enrolled in this study. The mean age of females was 43.9 years (18-93 years) and the mean age of males was 44.6 years (18-89 years). A total of 231 (25%) patients had psoriatic arthritis. Investigation of the relationship between PASI, BMI, waist circumference (WC) and arthritis revealed a statistically significant relationship between each variable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study we observed a relationship between PsA and high BMI, high WC and high PASI. Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder and a chronic inflammatory state induced by adiposity may lead to PsA.
authors: Dermatoveneorology Department, Medical Faculty, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Dilek Biyik
authors: DB
authors: Ozkaya
authors: Dermatoveneorology Department, Medical Faculty, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Nahide
authors: N
authors: Onsun
authors: Dermatoveneorology Department, Medical Faculty, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Bugce
authors: B
authors: Topukçu
authors: Dermatoveneorology Department, Medical Faculty, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Ozlem
authors: O
authors: Su
authors: Dermatoveneorology Department, Medical Faculty, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Anil Gulsel
authors: AG
authors: Bahalı
authors: Dermatoveneorology Department, Medical Faculty, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Didem
authors: D
authors: Dizman
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Aylin
authors: A
authors: Rezvani
authors: Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Medical Faculty, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Omer
authors: O
authors: Uysal
keywords: body mass index; psoriasis; psoriatic arthritis; waist circumference