Comorbidities in Psoriasis Patients

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects approximately 2% of the general population. Numerous studies have evaluated the increased prevalence of comorbid diseases and risk factors in psoriatic patients, including obesity, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, psoriatic arthritis, autoimmune disease, psychiatric illness, liver disease, smoking, malignancy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sleep apnea, and alcohol abuse. Insight into the overlapping pathogenesis of these comorbidities of psoriasis highlights the importance of immune-mediated mechanisms in these disease states. Psoriasis, with its comorbidities, must be approached in a multidisciplinary manner to effectively and comprehensively understand, manage, and treat those with this complex disorder. Semin Cutan Med Surg 29:10-15 (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.