Psoriasis and risk factors of metabolic syndrome: A case-control study

Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease. The risk factors of metabolic syndrome have been reported with greater frequency in patients with psoriasis. In this study، we aimed to evaluate these risk factors and compare them with normal population، as the control group. In this case-control study، 55 patients with psoriasis were studied from 2011 to 2012 and 55 matched (for sex and age) persons were considered as control group. Age، gender، body mass index، systolic and diastolic blood pressures، smoking، alcohol consumption، type of disease، and blood levels of triglyceride، total cholesterol، LDL، HDL، and fasting sugar were evaluated in both case and control groups and compared. Our findings showed that levels of TG (P=0. 005،OR: 1. 02، 95%CI: 1. 0-1. 34) and LDL (P=0. 03، OR: 1. 04، 95%CI: 1. 0-1. 09)، the frequency of smoking (P=0. 02، OR: 2. 2، 95%CI: 1. 1-3. 2)، and the mean of systolic blood pressure (P=0. 004، OR: 1. 07، 95%CI: 1. 02-1. 33) were significantly higher in psoriatic patients، compare with control group. Higher frequency of hypertension and lipid abnormalities in psoriatic patients may enhance the risk of cardiovascular diseases in them. Therefore، we recommend to check all patients with psoriasis، regardless of their disease severity، for serum lipid profiles and blood pressure. In addition، we strongly recommend giving up smoking، as a part of psoriasis treatment.