The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patient with psoriasis

Introduction: Psoriasis is a chronic relapsing remitting skin disease with T cell mediated inflammatory response. The presence of increased no of proinflammatory cytokines leads to increase the risk of development of metabolic disease and CVD in patient with psoriasis. Aim: To find the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patient with psoriasis. Methods: This study was a prospective hospital based case control study including 194 cases of psoriasis and 194 healthy matched controls. Waist circumference was obtained. Serum Triglycerides and cholesterol were measured using standard procedure. Venous samples were collected from the patients after overnight fasting (at least 8 h). Blood pressure was then recorded. Patient was labelled with metabolic syndrome when three of the five mentioned parameters were abnormal according to the criteria of the SAM National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP-III). Results: There were 117 males (60%) and 77 females (39.7%) in study group while 127 males (65.5%) and 67 females (34.5) in control group. Metabolic Syndrome was present in 42.8% of cases compared (23.2%) of controls with a p value <0.05. fasting blood sugar level was significantly higher among those with MS (46.9% compared to 24.2% in control group). Conclusion: The increased frequency of metabolic syndrome in patient with psoriasis led to a great burden not only on the health but also to the treating physician. All psoriasis patients must be screened for metabolic syndrome at the very onset of disease to decrease the comorbidities associated with psoriasis.