A new study published in the Archives of Dermatology provided further evidence of a link between psoriasis, diabetes and hypertension. Researchers from Harvard Medical School and Brigham Women’s Hospital in Boston concluded “psoriasis was independently associated with an increased risk of diabetes and hypertension.”
78,061 female nurses aged 27 to 44 were studied (none had diabetes at the start of the study) for 14 years. Women diagnosed with psoriasis during the 14 years were 63 percent more likely to develop diabetes and 17 percent more likely to develop high blood pressure. The link remained strong even after taking into account other diabetes and high blood pressure risk factors such as age, weight and smoking.
According to the BBC, the study’s authors stressed the necessity of “considering psoriasis a systemic disorder rather than simply a skin disease.” Many researchers believe chronic inflammation–present in the skin of psoriasis patients and a known risk factor for high blood pressure and a condition that often leads to type 2 diabetes–could explain the link between psoriasis and the other conditions. Under this theory, treating psoriasis might reduce the increased risk of these other conditions. But another theory suggests that the side-effects of certain psoriasis treatments might account for the increased risk. The study’s authors urged future studies to investigate the role of psoriasis treatment in impacting the risk of diabetes and hypertension.
Category: Impact of psoriasis, Psoriasis Research
Tags: diabetes, hypertension
