Psoriasis: More Than Just Skin Deep.

Psoriasis is a common inflammatory condition involving the skin, scalp, nails and joints. It significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular events and death in those affected, above Framingham Risk Score (FRS) prediction alone 1 . There is a dose-response element; those with the most severe psoriasis (assessed by the psoriasis area severity index (PASI) score) are at the greatest risk. A UK study estimated the excess risk as being equivalent to having a diagnosis of diabetes 2 . Psoriasis often becomes apparent at a young age, exposing patients to higher risk for several decades. This translates into a lifetime excess of cardiovascular mortality of approximately 2 3 .