A new study shows that patients with psoriasis end up being more at risk to other complications affecting other vital organs affecting the heart, kidneys, and lungs.
A research team from the University of Pennsylvania analyzed the medical records of the patients with psoriasis. They found out that the patients have at least one major disease that aggravates depending on the severity of the psoriasis.
Psoriasis, as described by the National Psoriasis Foundation, is a chronic, autoimmune disease that manifests on the skin caused by an increased growth of skin cells. Though it is not contagious, it still affects about 7.5 million Americans. Patients have to endure stress, itch, and depression which affect their work and relationship with the people around them.
The medical analysis revealed that about 15 percent of the 9,000 psoriasis patients may develop psoriatic arthritis that affects the joint characterized with pain, stiffness, and swelling.
The severity of the psoriasis was categorized into mild, moderate, and severe. Ten percent of them have severe psoriasis condition.
Their finding shows that psoriasis increases the risk of other diseases which include pulmonary disease, diabetes, liver disease, peripheral vascular disease, heart attack, kidney complications, peptic ulcers, and arthritis.
The researchers hope that their study will alert the patients to be more careful and take psoriasis seriously. Most patients do not take their condition seriously unless it is partnered with a major disease. However, it is better if they start being more vigilant as one major disease may lead to another such as a case where one patient who had an eye disease called retinopathy and diabetes as well.
Psoriasis still has no cure but the symptoms may be reduced or eliminated through injections, therapy, topical, and other methods.
The study was published in the Aug. 7 in the online journal JAMA Dermatology.
