Psoriasis Doubles Mortality Risk Save

Noe and colleagues have reported in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology that by estimating the extent of skin involvement in psoriasis (%BSA) they may assess future mortality risk. 

Psoriasis patients with 10% or more body surface area (BSA) involvement nearly doubled their risk of early death than those without the disease.

Psoriasis affects nearly 7.5 million in the United States, with 20% having moderate to severe psoriasis. While it has been previously shown that Pso patients have a high risk of other comorbidities (i.e., obesity, cancer, depression, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, liver disease) the magnitude of mortal risk is less certain.

Researchers analyzed 8,760 Pso patients and 87,600 controls from a UK database. Over an average 4 years of follow-up, the researchers calculated the number of deaths that occurred per 1,000 person-years.

Results showed a mortality rate of 3.24 deaths per 1,000 in controls, compared with 6.39 deaths per 1,000 person-years severe psoriasis (>10% BSA) patients. The mortality risk in severe Pso was OR = 1.79. The cause of death was not detailed in this study.

These trials again underscore the importance of comorbidity management in psoriasis.