Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition characterized by thick, red, scaly plaques that itch and sometimes bleed, causing considerable discomfort and emotional stress for patients.
In addition to the daily chore of dealing with the physical symptoms of this condition, new research suggests an association between psoriasis and two potentially serious medical conditions – diabetes and atherosclerosis, also known as hardening of the arteries.
For the 2 percent to 4 percent of the worldwide population affected by psoriasis, these findings could have a significant impact on their overall health, including the estimated 5.8 to 7.5 million Americans affected by the condition.
In the report entitled, “The association between psoriasis, diabetes mellitus, and atherosclerosis in Israel: A case-control study,” published in the April 2007 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology , dermatologist Michael David, MD, Dermatology Department at Rabin Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel, and his colleagues found a higher occurrence of diabetes and atherosclerosis in psoriasis patients compared to patients without psoriasis.
“Previous reports have demonstrated an association between psoriasis and other diseases, including heart failure and diabetes,” said Dr. David. “Our study was designed to determine if such an association existed with psoriasis patients in Israel, if so, what subset of this patient population was most affected.”