A Study of Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Patients of Psoriasis of North India

Aim: To assess the prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in patients of psoriasis and its relation with disease severity.

Materials and Methods: The study was cross sectional and hospital based. It was conducted on one hundred psoriasis patients of psoriasis between 18 to 70 years of age and of either sex. The severity of disease was assessed using PASI and BSA involved. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed on the basis of South Asian Modified National Cholesterol Education Program’s Adult Treatment Panel III.

Results: The overall prevalence of MS in our study was 42%, which is nearly three times as compared with the prevalence of MS in general population. Presence of MS did not have any association with the severity of psoriasis as assessed by PASI and BSA involvement. Overall disturbances in lipid profile (31% and 29% were having high TG level and low HDL level respectively) and abdominal obesity (30%) were the most important factors contributing to increased prevalence of MS. These were followed by increased BP(26%) and high FPG level (23%).

Conclusion: Due to increased prevalence of MS in psoriasis, dermatologists should go for simple cardiovascular evaluations like BMI, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose and lipid profile to prevent further morbidity.