Diabetes and Hypertension: Diseases Associated with Psoriasis

Two more systemic diseases are shown to be associated with psoriasis.

Although psoriasis primarily involves the skin and joints, recent findings have identified links with a number of conditions, including lymphoma, heart disease, and the metabolic syndrome. Researchers used data from the Nurses’ Health Study II to evaluate the risk to patients with psoriasis for developing diabetes or hypertension. In this large study, women aged 25 to 42 responded to detailed questions about their health in the 14-year period 1991–2005. Of 78,061 evaluable subjects, 1813 reported having psoriasis. During follow-up, 60 participants with and 1560 without existing psoriasis developed new type 2 diabetes (3.3% vs. 2.0%, respectively; adjusted relative risk, 1.63). Women with psoriasis also reported 386 new diagnoses of hyperten…

Reviewing Author

Craig A. Elmets, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Astellas Pharmaceuticals

EquityVaxin

Grant / Research support NIH; NIH/NCI; Veteran’s Administration; Ferndale Laboratories; Kyowa Hakko Kirin Pharma, Inc.

Editorial boards Cancer Prevention Research; Photodermatology, Photoimmunology, & Photomedicine; UpToDate; eMedicine; Journal of Dermatological Sciences; JAMA Dermatology

Leadership positions in professional societies American Academy of Dermatology (Vice Chair, Committee on Science and Research); Photomedicine Society (Board of Directors)