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LDL, total cholesterol decreased in patients with psoriasis before disease incidence

Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels significantly decreased during the 5 years before psoriasis incidence among patients with the disease, according to study data.

In a population-based study, researchers compared changes in lipid profiles of 689 patients with psoriasis (mean age at psoriasis incidence, 55.6 years; 46% men) and 717 matched participants without psoriasis. Researchers abstracted lipid measures performed 5 years before and after psoriasis incidence or index date for non-psoriasis participants. Lipid profile trends were examined using random-effects modeling adjusted for age, sex and calendar year.

In both cohorts, total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels showed significant declines during the 5 years before and after psoriasis incidence or cohort index date. TC (P=.022) and LDL (P=.054) displayed a greater decrease in the non-psoriasis group. In the psoriasis cohort, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels rose significantly before and after disease incidence date. In patients with psoriasis compared with the non-psoriasis cohort, triglyceride (TG) levels were significantly greater (on average 16.8 mg/dL; P<.001), and HDL levels were significantly lower (–1.9 mg/dL; P=.013). Lipid-lowering drug prescriptions were the same between groups.

“Patients with psoriasis had a significant decrease in TC and LDL levels during the 5 years before psoriasis incidence, but the magnitude of the reduction was smaller than that seen in non-psoriasis subjects,” the researchers concluded. “Although there was no difference in trends of TG and HDL levels between the two cohorts, mean TG levels were significantly higher in psoriasis subjects compared with non-psoriasis subjects. HDL levels were significantly lower in patients with psoriasis compared with non-psoriasis subjects.

“The cause and implications of the apparent changes in lipid profile before psoriasis incidence require further exploration.”

Disclosure: See the study for a full list of relevant disclosures.