Researchers uncover a link between psoriasis and heart attack

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Psoriasis can increase the risk of a heart attack, according to a new study.
Psoriasis is a common, chronic immune condition that creates widespread skin lesions. It is linked with systemic inflammation. Previous research has shown that psoriasis appears to be linked to an increased risk of heart disease - but the studies did not control for associated heart disease risk factors.

In a new study, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine reveal that psoriasis is, in itself, a risk factor for heart disease. The data comes from the UK General Practice Research Database and covered several thousand patients with either mild or severe psoriasis. This showed an elevated risk of heart attack for patients with psoriasis compared to those without. The risk of heart attack was highest for younger patients with severe psoriasis. So, a 40 year old with severe psoriasis had double the risk of heart attack, while a 40 year old with mild psoriasis had a 20 per cent increased risk. Indeed, for those under 50, having psoriasis was similar in significance as other heart disease risk factors. The researchers suggest it might be a good idea for those with psoriasis to pay extra attention to any pre-existing heart disease risk factors, so they can reduce the overall risk of a heart attack.

Source
Journal of the American Medical Association 11th October 2006