PSORIASIS AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISK: AN INTEGRATIVE CARDIO-DERMATOLOGY PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic unstable skin illness that is gaining prominence in the effect it caused in the entire human body particularly increasing the chances of heart illness.  This is a mixed-methods experimental research that examines clinical and pathophysiological associations between psoriasis and cardiovascular disease (CVD).  Adults included in the study were 180 and were categorized into three groups; psoriasis-only, CVD-only and comorbid.  The severity of the skin condition was measured by using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), and the score used to measure the risk of heart disease was Framingham Risk Scale (FRS), carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP).  The results of the analysis of biomarkers indicated elevated concentrations of TNF-alpha and IL-17 in individuals constituting the comorbid group. Regression models demonstrated also that PASI was significantly predictive of increased cardiovascular load.  In addition as well, interviews done, semi structured with a few comorbid patients revealed that they spoke a lot about psychological problems like they felt miserable about the state of their condition, how angry they were and how scared they were of heart problems.  The quantitative and qualitative findings support the notion of similarity in the rate of inflammation and the psychosomatic pathways of psoriasis and CVD.  The integrative clinical approach proposed in the study gives priority to the early screening and the care of numerous disciplines to enhance the long-term outcomes.  These findings complement the emerging literature that cardiovascular screening ought to be included in the dermatologic treatment of patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis.