Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with lichen planus in comparison with control group

The increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome has been established in chronic inflammatory skin diseases. Patients with metabolic syndrome have a higher mortality rate due to cardiovascular disease and malignancy. In this study, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was evaluated in lichen planus patients compared with a control group in Kerman, southeast Iran. This was a cross-sectional study on 90 patients with lichen planus and 90 healthy participants from the Dermatology Clinic of Afzalipour Hospital, Kerman, Iran. Demographic features of the patients and clinical features of the lesions were recorded. Then, parameters of metabolic syndrome were evaluated in both groups. The independent t-test and chi-squared test were used to compare quantitative and qualitative variables, respectively. There was no significant difference in demographic features of the participants between the two groups. Metabolic syndrome was significantly more prevalent in the lichen planus group (62.6%) than in the control group (14.4%) (P = 0.001). Metabolic syndrome parameter values (except waist circumference) were significantly higher in the lichen planus group than in the control group. Lichen planus patients with metabolic syndrome had a significantly higher percentage of mucosal involvement (66.1%) than lichen planus patients without metabolic syndrome (44.1%). Lichen planus patients with metabolic syndrome were significantly older than those without metabolic syndrome. This study observed a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome in lichen planus patients relative to controls. Furthermore, lichen planus patients with metabolic syndrome had significantly higher age, mucosal involvement, and body mass index than lichen planus patients without metabolic syndrome.