Metabolic Syndrome Diagnosis Changes and Psoriasis Risk: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

Abstract Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with psoriasis, but it remains unclear whether the risk of psoriasis remains in patients whose MetS diagnosis changes. Objectives To assess the associations between psoriasis risk and changes in MetS components. Methods We obtained data from the National Health Insurance Service of Korea and divided the participants into four groups: individuals without MetS (control); individuals with MetS in 2009 but without it in 2012 (pre-MetS); individuals without MetS in 2009, but with newly diagnosed MetS in 2012 (post-MetS); and individuals with MetS during the 2009–2012 period (continuous-MetS). We calculated the risk of psoriasis for each group. Results Psoriasis risks were similar in the control and pre-MetS groups, but were significantly higher in the post-MetS group (hazard ratio [HR], 1.08495%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.045–1.124) and in the continuous-MetS group (HR, 1.106; 95% CI, 1.068–1.145) than in the control group. Among MetS components, waist circumference showed the strongest association with psoriasis, followed by high-density lipoprotein and triglyceride levels. Conclusion Psoriasis risk was higher in patients with sustained or newly developed MetS than in those who did not have MetS (regardless of prior MetS status).