Metabolic syndrome in Spanish patients with psoriasis needing systemic therapy: Prevalence and association with cardiovascular disease in PSO-RISK, a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Increasing evidence indicates a relationship between psoriasis and metabolic syndrome (MS). We evaluated the prevalence of MS in patients receiving systemic treatment for psoriasis in Spain, and its relationship to cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods: This cross-sectional, multicenter, non-interventional study enrolled 368 patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis requiring systemic treatment. Clinical parameters for psoriasis, CV risk factors, MS and CVD were assessed. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed.

Results: 352 patients were included (median psoriasis duration: 18 years, plaque psoriasis [95.7%], psoriatic arthritis [22.8%]). Overall, 132 patients (37.5%) fulfilled diagnostic criteria for MS; the most prevalent MS components were high blood pressure and increased waist circumference. Patients with MS were older, more likely to be obese and to have a sedentary lifestyle and hypercholesterolemia than those without MS. CVD was more prevalent in patients with MS than in those without (29.5% versus 15.9%, p = 0.002), particularly coronary heart disease (CHD), myocardial infarction and heart failure. MS was independently associated with CVD (OR 1.98, p = 0.018) and CHD (OR 2.02, p = 0.044).

Conclusion: The prevalence of MS was high among patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis requiring systemic treatment, and was associated with a higher prevalence of CVD. Dermatologists should consider implementing simple screening protocols.

• Cardiovascular disease
• metabolic syndrome
• prevalence
• psoriasis

Acknowledgements

The statistical analysis was done by Alejandro Pedromingo (Bio-estadistica.com). The authors want to thank the 33 study investigators for their contribution to patient recruitment and data acquisition.

Declaration of interest

Medical writing assistance was provided by Content Ed Net, Madrid, and funded by Merck Sharp & Dohme of Spain.

I. Belinchón: None declared. F. Vanaclocha: None declared. P. de la Cueva-Dobao: consultant and/or speaker for MSD, Janssen, Pfizer, Abbvie, Novartis, Lilly and Leo Pharma. P. Coto-Segura: none declared. J. Labandeira: consultant for Abbvie, educational presentations for MSD. P. Herranz: lectures for MSD, Janssen and Pfizer, educational presentations for MSD. R. Taberner: lectures for Abbvie, Pfizer, Janssen and Novartis. B. Juliá: full-time employee at Merck Sharp & Dohme, Spain. L. Cea-Calvo: full-time employee at Merck Sharp & Dohme, Spain. L. Puig: consultant and/or speaker for MSD, Janssen, Pfizer, Abbvie, Amgen, Celgene, Novartis, Boehringer, Sandoz, Lilly, Almirall and Leo Pharma, grant from Abbvie. The PSO-RISK study was financed by Merck Sharp & Dohme of Spain, a subsidiary of Merck & Co, Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, USA.