Association between Psoriasis and Metabolic Syndrome and its Correlation with Disease Type and Severity: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder increasingly
recognized as a systemic disease associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS). This
study aims to evaluate the prevalence of MetS in psoriasis patients and to examine its
correlation with disease type and severity. Methods: A hospital-based case-control
study was conducted among 191 psoriasis patients and 191 age- and sex-matched
controls. Clinical profiles, PASI scores, and metabolic parameters were recorded.
MetS was defined based on the NCEP ATP III criteria. Data were analyzed using
SPSS v27, with chi-square tests, t-tests, and multivariate logistic regression. Results:
Metabolic syndrome was significantly more prevalent in the psoriasis group (36.1%)
compared to controls (20.4%) (p<0.001). Among psoriasis patients, the most
common MetS components were low HDL (59.7%), high triglycerides (53.9%), and
central obesity (46.6%). Patients with PASI >10 had significantly higher MetS
prevalence (45.1%) than those with PASI ≤10 (24.6%) (p<0.01). Multivariate
analysis identified elevated PASI and BMI as independent predictors of MetS.
Conclusion: Psoriasis, particularly in its moderate-to-severe form, is associated with
a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Routine screening for MetS in psoriasis
patients is essential to mitigate cardiovascular risk through early intervention.