Psoriasis Patients at Risk for Other Medical Conditions

"Psoriasis is a very serious condition that impacts the body well beyond the skin," said
Mark Lebwohl, M.D., dermatologist, chairman of the Department of Dermatology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and chair of the National Psoriasis Foundation Medical Board.

His comments were in response to a recent survey by the National Psoriasis Foundation of of 5,000 people with psoriasis that showed that people with psoriasis are at risk for developing other serious medical conditions, including heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

According to the patient survey:

• Nearly 70 percent of people with psoriasis are overweight or obese.
• 33 percent have high blood pressure.
• 28 percent have another chronic, inflammatory disease such as lupus, Crohn's disease or multiple sclerosis.
• 24 percent have high cholesterol.
• 11 percent have diabetes.

Additionally, up to 30 percent of people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis, which causes pain, swelling and stiffness around the joints.

Dr. Mark Lebwohl added "Like any patient with a chronic disease, people with psoriasis must see their doctor regularly and adopt a healthy lifestyle to lessen their risk of developing another serious disease."