Screening practice of cardiovascular risk and psoriatic arthritis among patients with psoriasis in primary care

Background: General Practitioners (GPs) act as primary gatekeepers for patients with psoriasis and their screening practice for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and psoriastic arhtiris (PsA) y. This study aimed to assess the awareness and screening routines of Danish GPs regarding CVD and PsA in patients with psoriasis. Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional survey on screening practice was conducted involving 490 randomly selected Danish GPs. Data were analyzed descriptively based on 101 responses (21% response rate). Results: The survey revealed a high level of awareness regarding CVD risk (84%), with 60% of GPs reporting routine screening for cardiovascular issues. Commonly assessed parameters included blood pressure (93%) and cholesterol (67%). Conversely, screening for PsA was notably less frequent, with only 32% of GPs actively screening for PsA. Conclusion: While screening and awareness of CVD risk among primary care professionals, PsA screening remains suboptimal. The findings suggest an urgent need for updated guidelines endorsing simple, validated PsA screening tools and targeted education to prevent missed opportunities for early diagnosis.