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Psoriasis linked to increased risk for metabolic syndrome
Psoriasis is associated with nearly double the risk for a cluster of conditions such as heart disease, abdominal obesity and high blood pressure that make up metabolic syndrome, according to a study in April's Archives of Dermatology.
In a national sample of more than 6,500 people, the study found that:
- Forty percent of people with psoriasis had metabolic syndrome compared to just 23 percent of the general population.
- More women with psoriasis had metabolic syndrome than men with the disease.
- The most common feature of metabolic syndrome among those with psoriasis was abdominal obesity. People with psoriasis are 15 percent more likely to have abdominal fat than those without psoriasis (63 percent compared to 48 percent).
The findings may explain the increased risk of cardiovascular-related issues among psoriasis patients that has been reported in previous studies.
"Given the serious complications associated with metabolic syndrome, this frequent comorbodity should be recognized and taken into account in the long-term treatment of individuals with psoriasis," the study's authors wrote.
Read more about the associated health risks of psoriasis »
April 27, 2011