A Review of the Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Comorbidities in Psoriasis

Abstract

Several epidemiologic studies suggest that there is an association between psoriasis and cardiovascular comorbidities, possibly due to overall systemic inflammation. Psoriasis is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality that is also associated with many of the traditional cardiovascular risk factors. This article summarizes important studies that demonstrate an association between psoriasis with smoking and alcohol intake, as well as increased risk of psoriasis patients for atrial fibrillation, atherosclerosis, coronary artery calcification, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, obesity, peripheral vascular disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiac death. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.