The association between psoriasis and obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

• Published in: Nutrition & diabetes 2012-12, Vol.2 (12), p.e54-e54
• Main Authors: Armstrong, A W, Harskamp, C T, Armstrong, E J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 692/699/1702/393; 692/699/249/2510/1758; 692/700/478/174; Clinical Nutrition; Diabetes; Epidemiology; Internal Medicine; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Review
• ISSN: 2044-4052; 2044-4052
• DOI: 10.1038/nutd.2012.26

Objective: Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease affecting 2–4% of the world population. The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis synthesizing the epidemiological associations between psoriasis and obesity. Data sources: We searched for observational studies from MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Central Register from 1 January 1980 to 1 January 2012. We applied the Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines in the conduct of this study. Study selection: We identified 16 observational studies with a total of 2.1 million study participants (201 831 psoriasis patients) fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Results: Using random-effects meta-analysis, the pooled odds ratio (OR) for obesity among patients with psoriasis was 1.66 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.46–1.89) compared with those without psoriasis. From the studies that reported psoriasis severity, the pooled OR for obesity among patients with mild psoriasis was 1.46 (95% CI 1.17–1.82) and the pooled OR for patients with severe psoriasis was 2.23 (95% CI 1.63–3.05). One incidence study found that psoriasis patients have a hazard ratio of 1.18 (95% CI 1.14–1.23) for new-onset obesity. Conclusions: Overall, compared with the general population, psoriasis patients have higher prevalence and incidence of obesity. Patients with severe psoriasis have greater odds of obesity than those with mild psoriasis.