Cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular diseases in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis under systemic treatment. PSO-RISK, descriptive study.

Background: The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) in psoriasis has not been studied in large Spanish samples.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of major CVRFs in psoriasis patients requiring systemic treatments.

Material And Methods: Cross-sectional study in psoriasis patients from 33 hospital dermatology offices throughout Spain. Blood pressure (BP) was measured and a fasting lab test was performed. Each CVRF was diagnosed according to the recommendations of international societies.

Results: In 368 patients (mean age 48 years old, 36% women), 80.2% had at least one CVRF. The prevalence of each CVRF was similar in men and women and slightly higher in patients with psoriatic arthritis and in patients with a history of more severe disease. The percentage of patients treated with drugs to control CVRF was low (∼ 50% of those with each CVRF). A total of 20.7% had experienced some cardiovascular disease (CVD) episode.

Conclusion: The prevalence of CVRF was high, higher than in the general Spanish population, and 20% had already suffered CVD. However, the percentage with drug treatments for CVRF was low.