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. 2011 Apr;147(4):419-24.
doi: 10.1001/archdermatol.2010.370. Epub 2010 Dec 20.

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in psoriasis: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2003-2006

Thorvardur Jon Love  1 , Abrar A Qureshi, Elizabeth Wood Karlson, Joel M Gelfand, Hyon K Choi
Affiliations

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in psoriasis: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2003-2006

Thorvardur Jon Love et al. Arch Dermatol. 2011 Apr.

Abstract

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among individuals with psoriasis and to examine the association between these 2 conditions in the general US population.

Design: Cross-sectional health survey of a nationally representative random sample of the noninstitutionalized civilian US population.

Setting: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2003-2006.

Participants: The study included 6549 participants aged 20 to 59 years.

Main outcome measures: Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome defined by the revised National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III definition and odds ratios for associations after adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, smoking status, and C-reactive protein levels.

Results: The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 40% among psoriasis cases and 23% among controls. According to 2008 US census data, the projected number of patients with psoriasis aged 20 to 59 years with the metabolic syndrome was 2.7 million. The univariate and multivariate odds ratios for patients with psoriasis and the metabolic syndrome were 2.16 (95% confidence interval, 1.16 to 4.03) and 1.96 (1.01 to 3.77), respectively. The most common feature of the metabolic syndrome among patients with psoriasis was abdominal obesity, followed by hypertriglyceridemia and low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Conclusions: The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome is high among individuals with psoriasis. Given the serious complications associated with the metabolic syndrome, this frequent comorbidity should be recognized and taken into account in the long-term treatment of individuals with psoriasis.

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Figures

Figure
Figure
Frequency distribution of the metabolic syndrome components according to the presence of psoriasis. The dashed vertical line marks the cutoff for the definition of the metabolic syndrome, with the columns to the right of this line representing those patients meeting the modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. The solid line represents the normal density plot, showing a shift towards the right among patients with psoriasis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

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