One-third of psoriasis patients have metabolic syndrome

Photo by James Heilman, MD via Wikimedia Commons

The global prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among patients with psoriasis is 32%, researchers report online in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.

These findings come from a systematic review and meta-analysis of records from five databases from their inception through Sept. 2021.

MetS is characterized by patients having at least three of five medical conditions: abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high serum triglycerides, and low serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL). It is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

While it has been known that psoriasis patients are at an increased risk of MetS, there has not previously been a systematic review to determine its global prevalence, the study’s authors note.

Overall, the investigators found a global prevalence of MetS in patients with psoriasis of 32% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.26–0.38).

The prevalence was higher in adults (32% (95% CI, 0.29–0.36)) than in children and adolescents (9% (95% CI, 0.00–0.18)).

Broken down by region, Latin America had the highest prevalence at 47% (95% CI, 0.43–0.51). In contrast, the lowest prevalence was in North America, at 26% (95% CI, 0.16–0.37).

Prevalence was also higher in patients with psoriasis vulgaris (29%; 95% CI, 0.23–0.35) or severe psoriasis (37%; 95% CI, 0.27–0.46) compared to other forms of psoriasis.

“These findings suggest that MetS should be appropriately recognized and managed in patients with psoriasis. More population-based prospective observational studies are required to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the coexistence of MetS in patients with psoriasis,” the authors write.