Association between rosacea and cardiometabolic disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: Rosacea is recognized as a chronic inflammatory cutaneous disorder associated with multiple systemic illnesses. However, the association between rosacea and cardiometabolic disease (CMD) remains controversial.

Objective: To evaluate the association between rosacea and CMD by a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: A comprehensive search of studies published before October 16, 2019, was performed in databases of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. The pooled risk ratios or standardized mean differences were calculated.

Results: Thirteen studies were included, representing 50,442 patients with rosacea. Patients with rosacea had higher prevalence of dyslipidemia, higher prevalence of hypertension, higher total cholesterol, higher low-density lipoprotein, higher triglycerides, higher systolic blood pressure, higher diastolic blood pressure, and higher fasting blood glucose. Rosacea was not associated with ischemic heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and high-density lipoprotein.

Limitations: No subgroup analysis could be performed according to the subtypes and severity of rosacea.

Conclusions: Rosacea showed a correlation with hypertension and dyslipidemia but not with ischemic heart disease, stroke, or diabetes. We advocate screening for CMD indicators among patients with rosacea, which may be helpful for diagnosis and appropriate treatment at an early stage of disease.

Keywords: cardiometabolic disease; cardiovascular disease; diabetes; dyslipidemia; hypertension; meta-analysis; rosacea.