Clinical features and comorbidities in psoriasis. A retrospective study

Introduction
Patients with psoriasis may develop several comorbidities.

Objective
To determine the clinical characteristics and comorbidities associated with psoriasis.

Material and methods
This retrospective case-control study involved 422 adult patients with psoriasis and 444 healthy individuals. The inclusion criteria for patients were: over 18 years old and at least one-year history of confirmed psoriasis. Data, such as age, gender, body mass index, smoking, and alcohol consumption habits were analyzed in addition to detailed physical and dermatological examination.

Results
The common comorbidities in patients with psoriasis were depression (n = 144, 34%), hypertension (n = 168, 39.81%), diabetes mellitus (n = 100, 23.7%), coronary artery disease (n = 59, 13.9%) and metabolic syndrome (n = 67, 15.88%). The most common conditions in the control group were hypertension (n = 62, 13.96%), hyperlipidemia (n = 62, 13.96%), diabetes mellitus (n= 42; 9.46%), metabolic syndrome (n = 32; 7.21%) and coronary artery disease (5.41%). Patients with psoriasis are at a higher risk for obesity compared to healthy controls (OR = 1.99; p < 0.0001). In addition, smoking and alcohol consumption were significantly higher in patients with psoriasis (p < 0.0001).

Conculsion
These results indicate an increased prevalence of obesity, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and depression in patients with psoriasis.