Co-morbidity in psoriasis: mechanisms and implications for treatment

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Psoriasis is a common, chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory disorder. The disease is associated with several co-morbidities including cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and psychiatric disorders. It is important to identify and treat these co-morbidities because they have a strongly negative effect on the overall health of patients with psoriasis. Unfortunately, these co-morbidities are often overlooked and/or left untreated. Therefore, the aim of this review is to discuss the mechanisms of how co-morbidities are associated with psoriasis as well as implications for the clinic to be able to recognize such co-morbidities.

Areas covered: This is a review of studies investigating and discussing co-morbidities of psoriasis and screening. Literature was retrieved by searching on the PubMed database using individual and combined search terms related to relevant co-morbidities.

Expert commentary: Effective management of psoriasis involves targeting of both psoriasis and co-morbidities.

KEYWORDS:

• Psoriasis
• co-morbidities
• comorbidity
• inflammatory diseases
• genetics
• risk factors
• treatment
• metabolic syndrome
• cardiovascular disease

Declaration of interest

L Skov has been an investigator or received consultancy and/or speaker honoraria from Abbvie, Pfizer, Janssen-Cilag, Novartis, Regeneron and Leo Pharma and is a member of advisory boards of Abbvie, Pfizer, Janssen-Cilag, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Eli Lilly, Celgene and Novartis. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.