A clinical study of psoriasis and its association with co-morbid conditions.

Objectives The study aimed (1) to compare incidence of co-morbidities among psoriatic patients (cases) and nonpsoriatic patients (controls), (2) to determine the association between psoriasis and various co-morbidities and (3) to determine the relationship between the severity of psoriasis and co-morbidities. Methods We performed a hospital-based case-control study involving 100 psoriatic patients (cases) and 100 age- and sex-matched nonpsoriatic patients (controls) from the dermatology outpatient department in a government teaching institute. Detailed history and examination was followed by relevant investigations. The severity of psoriasis was assessed according to Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), and body surface area (BSA) measurement. Cardiovascular risk factors were assessed by using the definition for metabolic syndrome, which includes the presence of three or more of the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Panel III (ATP III) criteria. Results The study revealed statistically significant association of psoriasis with metabolic syndrome (27% vs 8%, p = 0.0004) and psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic patients had significantly higher levels of triglycerides (24% vs 8%, p = 0.002) and fasting blood sugar (23% vs 8%, p = 0.003) along with significantly lower HDL levels (29% vs 7%, p = 0.000, in males and 7% vs 2%, p = 0.043 in females). Abdominal obesity was more prevalent in psoriatic patients (24% vs 9%, p = 0.02 in male and 9% vs 3%, p = 0.033 in females). Neither metabolic syndrome nor psoriatic arthritis correlated with the severity of psoriasis. Conclusion There was higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with psoriasis. However, its presence did not correlate with either severity or duration of the psoriasis. Hence, we suggest that all patients need to be evaluated for metabolic syndrome irrespective of severity of psoriasis which is the risk factor for systemic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]