The Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Psoriathic Arthritis Patients, a Cross-sectional Study on Iranian Population

Abstract

Introduction: Psoriasis is a T-cell mediated chronic inflammatory disorder with multiple skin, nails and joints involvement. The reported prevalence of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) varies from 5 to 42 cases per 100 psoriasis patients. Insulin resistance is believed to be central to the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome (metS), a constellation of major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, including atherogenic dyslipidemia, truncal adiposity, hypertension and hyperglycemia. The association of psoriasis with metS and is increasingly being reported.  Although the literature relating PsA to metS is accumulating, there is still a paucity of evidence, especially from Asia. Here, we examined the prevalence of metS and its components in patients with PsA.  Methods: The study was performed among outpatients attending the specialty clinics and Rheumatology ward of an institutional tertiary referral center. A consecutive sample of 80 patients diagnosed as having psoriatic arthritis in our clinics was studied. Age, gender, body mass index, blood pressure and waist circumference, and history of smoking of patients were measured and asked at the enrolment visit. Venous samples were taken after 8 h of overnight fasting for the estimation of serum lipid profile, glucose and uric acid levels. Also an ultrasonographic examination was done for detection of NAFLD. Results: 46 patients (57.5%) were male and 34 patients (42.5%) were female. Mean age of the participants was 43 years (SD: 11.3). The prevalence of abnormal components of metabolic syndrome was 53.8% for BMI, 48.8% for TG level, 50% for HDL, 46.3 for LDL, 45% for Cholesterol, 23.8% for FBS, 47.5% for waist circumflex and 42.5 for uric acid. 40% of the patients had abnormal SBP and 41.2% had abnormal DBP. 30% of the participants were current smokers and 43.8 had NAFLD on ultrasonographic examination. 51.3% of patients had metabolic syndrome according to the Adult Treatment Panel III criteria for adult Asian patients. Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome is a prevalent disorder among psoriatic arthritis patients and early diagnosis and treatment is the key factor in prevention of its consequences.