AUTHOR=Wu Huihui , Luo Zeyu , Liu Juanhua , Luo Diqing , Song Luli , Zhao Yukun 

TITLE=Association between psoriasis and coronary artery calcification: A systematic review and meta-analysis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cardiovascular-medicine/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2022.1044117

DOI=10.3389/fcvm.2022.1044117

ISSN=2297-055X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Background</title><p>Psoriasis and atherosclerosis have overlapping pathophysiological mechanisms. However, the association between psoriasis and coronary artery calcification (CAC), a hallmark of atherosclerosis and a predictor of poor cardiovascular prognosis, remains to be determined. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to comprehensively evaluate the association between these related inflammatory conditions.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>Observational studies evaluating the relationship between psoriasis and CAC were retrieved by searching PubMed, Cochrane’s Library, and Embase databases. Presence of CAC was confirmed according to an Agatston’s Score &gt;0 upon computed tomography examination. A random-effect model incorporating between-study heterogeneity was used to pool the results.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Sixteen studies involving 3,039 patients with psoriasis and 46,191 controls without psoriasis were included in the meta-analysis. All participants were without previously known cardiovascular diseases. Pooled results showed that psoriasis was associated with overall CAC [odds ratio (OR): 1.54, 95% confidence interval: 1.23–1.91, <italic>p &lt;</italic> 0.001; <italic>I</italic><sup>2</sup> = 57%], after matching or adjusting the conventional cardiovascular risk factors. Subgroup analyses showed that study country, comorbidity of psoriatic arthritis, baseline Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, and duration of psoriasis (<italic>p</italic> for subgroup difference all &gt;0.05) did not significantly affect the association of psoriasis and CAC. However, a stronger association was observed in younger patients (mean age &lt;50 years, OR: 2.63, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001) compared to older patients (≥50 years, OR: 1.24, <italic>p</italic> = 0.02; <italic>p</italic> for subgroup difference &lt;0.001).</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>Psoriasis is associated with CAC, and the association may be stronger in younger patients.</p></sec>