Evaluation of cardiovascular risk factors with the framingham risk score and ankle-brachial index

Objective: The aim of our study was to investigate cardiovascular risk factors in patients with psoriasis, using the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) and Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI). Additionally, because they contribute to the risk of cardiovascular diseases, criteria of metabolic syndrome, serum CRP levels and smoking habits, as well as the effects of the duration of the systemic inflammation in psoriasis, PASI and body surface area, on the cardiovascular risk have also been evaluated. Materials and Methods: Fifty patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 50 control patients, from the Dermatology outpatient clinic of Celal Bayar University Hospital, who were diagnosed with a skin disease other than psoriasis (also not chronic inflammatory) and matching in age sex, were enrolled in our study. Age, sex, height, weight, waist circumference, body mass index, waist-hip ratio, ankle and brachial blood pressures, fasting blood glucose, lipid profile and CRP values as well as cigarette consumption of the participants and history of other chronic systemic diseases were recorded. Disease duration, PASI and body surface area were additionally recorded for patients with psoriasis. FRS and ABI values were calculated and whether or not the participants had metabolic syndrome was noted. Statistical analysis were made using the SPSS 20.0 program. Results: In our study, the average waist circumference of the psoriatic patients was higher than the control group and the difference was statistically significant (p=0,033). Patients? body mass index was also significantly higher than the control group (p=0,014). When the groups were compared in terms of other chronic systemic diseases, psoriatic patients had significantly more accompanying diseases (p=0,030) however when the groups were compared separately for diabetes and hypertension, which are major risk factors for cardiovascular events, no difference was noted among the groups. Smoking ratios were considerably higher in patients with psoriasis. The mean FRS was higher in psoriatic patients, however not significant (p=0,075), while the mean ABI was significantly increased (p<0,001). The incidence of metabolic syndrome was slightly increased in psoriatic patients although it had no statistical importance. Disease duration, PASI and body surface area had no significant contribution in FRS and ABI values in psoriatic patients. Conclusion and Suggestions: Our study is the first to investigate FRS and ABI together in psoriasis patients and the results demonstrate that psoriasis lays ground for cardiovascular diseases and patients should be evaluated in this perspective, educated and accordingly followed.