The Risk of Rosacea According to Chronic Diseases and Medications: A 5-Year Retrospective, Multi-Institutional Case-Control Study

BACKGROUND: Rosacea is associated with chronic systemic disease. However, research is lacking in Asian countries. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between rosacea and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) related systemic comorbidities, and the use of antihypertensive and antihyperlipidemic drugs in Korea. METHODS: A five-year retrospective study, using hospital database, was conducted in five medical centers for five years. Totally 1,399,528 patients were evaluated. RESULTS: The overall frequency for diagnosed rosacea was 0.18% over five years (2,536 rosacea patients). Patients with diabetes and patients with dyslipidemia were more likely to have rosacea (odd ratio [OR] 2.724, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.295~5.730, p=0.016; OR 1.788, 95% CI 1.445~2.212, p<0.001). Patients with CVD were less likely to have rosacea (OR 0.431, 95% CI 0.244~0.760, p=0.003). Patients with α-blocker prescriptions and patients with β-blocker prescriptions showed a tendency diagnosed with rosacea frequently (OR 1.963, 95% CI 1.200~3.212, p=0.006; OR 3.939, 95% CI 3.512~4.419, p<0.001). Patients with [beta]-hydroxy-[beta]-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor, and those with fibrate, were prone to have rosacea (OR 1.599, 95% CI 1.390~1.839, p<0.001; OR 1.660, 95% CI 1.056~2.609, p=0.026). As adjusted results, among the patients who took HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor without dyslipidemia, rosacea was less likely to be diagnosed (OR 0.780, 95% CI 0.620~0.982, p=0.034). CONCLUSION: Rosacea is associated with chronic diseases and drugs.