The relation between psoriasis (a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by scaly, red patches of skin) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (an exaggerated swelling of the aorta) had not yet been highlighted by scientists. A study conducted by Dr Usman Khalid, from Hellerup Hospital in Denmark, seems to indicate that patients with psoriasis have an increased risk of developing this disorder of the aorta, the main vessel that connects the heart at the abdomen.
An increased risk of cardiovascular disease
“Our results provide evidence that there is an increased risk of various cardiovascular diseases in patients with psoriasis” explains Dr. Khalid whose study was published in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology.
For this study, Dr. Khalid and his team analyzed and followed for 14 years more than 59,000 patients with mild psoriasis and 11,000 patients with severe psoriasis. Researchers found that patients with mild psoriasis were 20% more likely to develop an abdominal aneurysm than people without psoriasis. And those with severe psoriasis were 67% more likely to have this risk.
However, the study did not prove that psoriasis causes these aneurysms. But simply that an association exists between the two diseases. “Nevertheless, our results highlight not only the need to treat the symptoms of skin disease but also to regularly assess the risk factors associated with it. Patients must also be encouraged to follow a healthier lifestyle in order to reduce cardiovascular risk”.
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