Psoriasis is not just a skin condition. According to a recent study, this disease is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
One of the misconceptions about psoriasis is to describe it as a simple skin condition. But it’s linked to a high risk of cardiovascular disease. On the occasion of World Psoriasis Day, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) encourages patients to be screened to identify possible heart failure.
At the last ESC Congress, research demonstrated the importance of regular monitoring and management of cardiovascular risk in patients with psoriasis. They discovered that the 125 million people affected are twice as likely to develop heart failure as the general population.
“Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of psoriasis and heart failure, and it could play a role in their development and progression,” says Dr Usman Khalid, who led the study in Denmark.
It is therefore important that patients are aware of the risk to which they are exposed. Because, while it is not possible to cure psoriasis, the risk factors can be treated. Indeed, obesity, smoking or even a sedentary lifestyle increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and worsen the symptoms of psoriasis. By improving their lifestyle, each patient can influence their health.
But prevention is not enough: Doctors must also screen patients with psoriasis. The affection affects the whole body even if its main manifestation is only the visible part.
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