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Rosacea associated with RA, diabetes, celiac disease, multiple sclerosis

Rosacea had a significant association with type 1 diabetes mellitus, celiac disease, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, according to recently published study results.

Researchers in Denmark conducted a population-based, case-control study of 6,759 patients with rosacea (63.2% women; mean age, 40.2 years) and 33,795 controls matched on age, sex and calendar time. Conditional logistic regression was used to calculate ORs.

Patients with rosacea had significantly increased ORs for type 1 diabetes mellitus (adjusted OR = 2.59; 95% CI, 1.41-4.73), celiac disease (aOR = 2.03; 95% CI, 1.35-3.07), multiple sclerosis (aOR = 1.65; 95% CI, 1.2-2.28) and rheumatoid arthritis (aOR = 2.14; 95% CI, 1.82-2.52).

Women with rosacea had a significant association with type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, when stratified by sex. However, men with rosacea only had a significant association with rheumatoid arthritis.

The investigators reported that their study was limited because they were unable to distinguish between rosacea subtypes and severities.

“The discovery of these new rosacea-associated autoimmune comorbidities is intriguing and may add to improved overall understanding of rosacea etiopathogenesis,” the researchers wrote. “Future studies are warranted to examine their underlying mechanisms and clinical consequences.” – by Bruce Thiel