Psoriasis and Cardiovascular Risk: Correlation Between Psoriasis and Cardiovascular Functional Indices

Abstract

Evidence suggests that psoriasis together with other cardiovascular (CV) risk factors is associated with increased vascular morbidity, but it is not clear whether psoriasis is an independent risk factor. Consecutive patients (n = 33; 35.6 ± 5.7 years; 13 females) with mild psoriasis (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index <10) without comorbidities and 33 healthy participants (36.3 ± 5.9 years; 15 females) were enrolled. Both groups underwent echocardiography, speckle tracking (2-dimensional strain echocardiography [2D-SE]), and pulse wave velocity (PWV) testing. Clinical and conventional echocardiographic characteristics were comparable between both groups. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) was significantly lower ( P = .002) in the psoriasis group (22.39% ± 2.28%) than in controls (24.15% ± 2.17%). The PWV was significantly lower ( P = .004) in controls (8.06 ± 1.68 m/s) than in the psoriasis group (9.23 ± 1.53 m/s). Significant correlations between GLS and disease duration ( r = -.66, P < .0001) and between GLS and patient age at diagnosis ( r = .48, P = .0043) were found. Psoriasis may be an independent CV risk factor, causing cardiac and vascular impairment. Both 2D-SE and PWV may be useful tools for the screening of CV risk in these patients.

Maternal and infant pregnancy outcomes in women with psoriatic arthritis: a Swedish nationwide cohort study

“…Apart from PsA, spondyloarthritis includes ankylosing spondylitis (AS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)‐related arthritis and undifferentiated spondyloarthritis. PsA, as well as skin psoriasis, is associated with co‐morbidities including cardiovascular disease, obesity and metabolic syndrome …”

Psoriasis and Cardiovascular Disease: Two Sides of the Same Coin?

“…44 In another study, both cIMT and hsCRP were associated with bilirubin levels in patients with psoriasis. 45 In this issue of the journal, Dattilo et al 57 assessed cardiac and vascular abnormalities in patients with psoriasis. The study compared 33 young patients with mild psoriasis (free of CV risk factors and overt CV disease) and 33 well-matched healthy volunteers.…”

“…They found that traditional echocardiographic indices were similar between the 2 groups, while more modern echocardiographic techniques, such as the global longitudinal strain, were altered in patients with mild psoriasis and correlated with disease duration and age at diagnosis. 57 Moreover, arterial stiffness (assessed by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity), a reliable index of vascular disease, was also altered in patients with psoriasis. 57 Dattilo et al 57 provided clinically meaningful data on the effect of mild psoriasis on the CV system, highlighting the importance of using modern echocardiographic indices to recognize subclinical heart disease.…”

“…57 Moreover, arterial stiffness (assessed by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity), a reliable index of vascular disease, was also altered in patients with psoriasis. 57 Dattilo et al 57 provided clinically meaningful data on the effect of mild psoriasis on the CV system, highlighting the importance of using modern echocardiographic indices to recognize subclinical heart disease. The study unveils the true effect of mild psoriasis in a younger group of patients, which is devoid of CV risk factors that might influence subclinical cardiac and vascular alterations.…”

“…The concomitant presence of other CV risk factors significantly aggravates the CV profile of patients with psoriasis. The study by Dattilo et al 57 provides meaningful data on diagnostic markers of early CV disease, highlighting the need for further research on markers of vascular damage extent in patients with psoriasis before the manifestation of overt CV disease.…”