A Study of Awareness and Screening Behavior of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients with Psoriasis and Dermatologists

BACKGROUND: A number of studies have suggested an increased frequency of cardiovascular (CV) diseases in patients with psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we assessed the awareness among psoriasis patients and dermatologists in private primary clinics about the increased CV risk linked to psoriasis, and examined the screening behaviors of dermatologists for CV risk factors in psoriasis patients. METHODS: We distributed questionnaires to dermatologists in primary clinics and to psoriasis patients about their awareness of the increased CV risk factors related with psoriasis. RESULTS: One hundred four patients and 50 dermatologists were included. 64.4% of patients and 92% of dermatologists answered that they know about the increased risk of CV diseases in psoriasis patients. However, far fewer dermatologists than expected followed the screening guidelines for CV risk factors. We found that the duration (p<0.0001) and severity (p<0.0001) of psoriasis were related to patient's awareness. A significant correlation between dermatologists' awareness and the number of psoriasis patients they treated each month was also observed (p<0.024). CONCLUSION: This study may help promote the idea that psoriasis patients require education about their increased CV risk factors and that dermatologists require further education about screening practices to detect CV risk in psoriasis patients.