Metabolic syndrome in patients with psoriasis: A hospital-based case–control study

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Metabolic syndrome (MS) increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Previous studies indicate a higher prevalence of MS in psoriatic patients. Objectives: The objective of the study was to determine the frequency of occurrence of MS and its individual components in patients with psoriasis. Methodology: This study was a hospital-based, case–control study involving fifty adult patients with psoriasis and fifty age- and gender-matched controls. Blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, fasting lipid profile, and blood sugar were assessed in all subjects. MS was diagnosed by the presence of three or more of the South Asian Modified National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Results: MS was significantly more common in psoriatic patients than in controls (38% vs. 22%, P = 0.043). Psoriatic patients had higher prevalence of raised fasting blood sugar (32% vs. 16%, P = 0.0334), hypertriglyceridemia (34% vs. 18%, P = 0.037), low high-density lipoprotein (50% vs. 20%, P = 0.00093), and hypertension (38% vs. 20%, P = 0.025). Raised values of waist circumference as a measure of central obesity though not statistically significant (P = 0.08) were found higher in psoriatic cases. The mean age of the psoriatic patients in years was 48 ± 17.1. Mean duration of the disease was 9.2 ± 8 years. There was no correlation between the severity and duration of psoriasis with MS. Conclusion: MS is frequent in patients with psoriasis. This highlights the need for screening of all psoriatic patients for early diagnosis and treatment of associated MS