Background: Psoriasis is associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, including metabolic syndrome (MetS). To date, it is unclear whether MetS causes differences in cardiovascular outcomes in psoriatic patients with coronary artery disease.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study to determine the effects of MetS in psoriatic patients with coronary artery disease. Comparisons were made between patients with and without MetS. Cox regression analysis and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis were used to evaluate the association between variables.
Results: Of the 307 psoriatic patients with coronary artery disease, 94 met criteria (30.6%) for MetS. Individuals with MetS were more likely to be female (p < 0.001). Levels of platelet counts and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were higher in the MetS group (p = 0.038 and 0.005, respectively). After a mean follow-up of 35.32 months, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) and non-fatal myocardial infarction were more likely in the MetS than the non-MetS group (33.3% vs 20.6%, p = 0.02; 26.4% vs 15.7%, p = 0.032, respectively). Kaplan–Meier estimates showed the same trend. Cox regression analysis showed that MetS (hazard ratio 1.738; 95% confidence interval 1.045– 2.891; p = 0.033) and left ventricular ejection fraction (hazard ratio 0.968; 95% confidence interval 0.945– 0.991; p = 0.006) were associated with an increased risk of MACEs.
Conclusion: In psoriatic patients with coronary artery disease, MetS independently predicted MACEs. In addition, left ventricular ejection fraction was negatively associated with an increased risk of MACEs. To reduce the cardiovascular disease risk, it is necessary to increase awareness of MetS in psoriatic patients with coronary artery disease.
Keywords: metabolic syndrome, psoriasis, cardiovascular outcomes, coronary artery disease, MACEs