Cardiovascular Disease and Risk Factors among Psoriasis Patients in Two US Healthcare Databases, 2001–2002

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases or risk factors (CVDR) seem to be more common in psoriasis patients than in the general population. OBJECTIVE: We assessed the relationship of psoriasis with CVDR by analysis of healthcare claims data using a cross-sectional, prevalence-based study design. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The IMS Health and MarketScan claims databases were used to identify adults with psoriasis diagnostic codes. Non-psoriasis controls were matched 3:1 based on age, gender, census region and previous medical insurance coverage. Odds ratios evaluated the relative prevalence of CVDR, and Mantel-Haenszel confidence intervals were estimated. RESULTS: CVDR prevalence was generally higher in psoriasis patients than controls in both datasets. Odds ratios for atherosclerosis, congestive heart failure, type 2 diabetes, and peripheral vascular disease were >or=1.20 for psoriasis patients. Elevated disease severity was associated with a higher rate of CVDR, but varied somewhat by dataset and condition. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated CVDR rates were found in psoriasis patients compared with controls. This pattern merits further examination.