21 Aug Cardiovascular Events Rise With Increased Duration of Psoriasis

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. Egeberg

Alexander Egeberg, MD PhD
Gentofte Hospital
Department of Dermatology and Allergy
Kildegårdsvej 28
2900 Hellerup
Denmark

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: The majority cardiovascular events in psoriasis occur in patients at low risk by traditional cardiovascular risk calculators. It has been speculated that long-term exposure to systemic inflammation may increase the risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Therefore, clinically available historical features such as disease duration may identify those at higher risk for cardiovascular disease.

Using a translational epidemiological approach, combining 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography computed tomography scanning with nationwide epidemiological data of more than four million individuals, we provide the first convincing evidence to suggest a detrimental effect of psoriasis duration on cardiovascular disease beyond traditional cardiovascular risk factors, even in patients deemed “low-risk” by conventional risk scores. We found a 1% increase in future major adverse cardiovascular event risk per additional year of disease duration. This finding has an effect size similar to smoking, a well-established cardiovascular risk factor.

MedicalResearch.com: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Response: Disease duration may represent a potentially easily obtainable measure of risk for cardiovascular disease in psoriasis and other inflammatory-based diseases.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: The burning question is whether, and to what extent, systemic treatment of psoriasis may affect (and reduce) the cardiovascular risk in psoriasis. While observational studies suggest a protective effect of TNF inhibitors, experimental data are less clear cut. This is an area of great interest now and in the coming years. 

MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.

Citation:

The relationship between duration of psoriasis, vascular inflammation, and cardiovascular events
Alexander Egeberg, Lone Skov, Aditya A. Joshi, Lotus Mallbris, Gunnar H. Gislason, Jashin J. Wu, Justin Rodante, Joseph B. Lerman, Mark A. Ahlman, Joel M. Gelfand, Nehal N. Mehta
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2017.06.028
Publication stage: In Press Corrected Proof
Published online: August 18, 2017

Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.

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Last Updated on August 21, 2017 by Marie Benz MD FAAD