Hsien-Yi Chiu1, Wei-Lun Chang2, Weng-Foung Huang2, Yu-Wen Wen3, Yi-Wen Tsai2, Tsen-Fang Tsai4. 1. Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine and College of Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Dermatology, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch, Hsin-Chu, Taiwan; Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Department of Dermatology, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. 2. Institute of Health and Welfare Policy, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. 3. Clinical Informatics and Medical Statistics Research Center, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan. 4. Department of Dermatology, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: tftsai@yahoo.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, the association between psoriasis and arrhythmia has not been adequately studied. OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate whether patients with psoriasis have an increased risk of arrhythmia. METHODS: This population-based cohort study identified 40,637 patients with psoriasis and 162,548 subjects without psoriasis matched by age, sex, history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, and diabetes in the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database during 2004 through 2006. RESULTS: After adjusting for medical history and medication use, patients with psoriasis were at increased risk of overall arrhythmia (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.34; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.29-1.39). The risks of arrhythmia were higher in all subgroups, including patients with severe (aHR 1.25; 95% CI 1.12-1.39) and mild (aHR 1.35; 95% CI 1.30-1.41) psoriasis, and in patients with (aHR 1.46; 95% CI 1.22-1.74) and without (aHR 1.33; 95% CI 1.28-1.39) psoriatic arthritis. LIMITATIONS: The National Health Insurance Research Database did not contain information regarding Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, cigarette smoking, or alcohol consumption. CONCLUSION: Patients with psoriasis were at higher risk of developing arrhythmia, particularly for those with psoriatic arthritis, independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
BACKGROUND:Psoriasis is associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, the association between psoriasis and arrhythmia has not been adequately studied. OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate whether patients with psoriasis have an increased risk of arrhythmia. METHODS: This population-based cohort study identified 40,637 patients with psoriasis and 162,548 subjects without psoriasis matched by age, sex, history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, and diabetes in the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database during 2004 through 2006. RESULTS: After adjusting for medical history and medication use, patients with psoriasis were at increased risk of overall arrhythmia (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.34; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.29-1.39). The risks of arrhythmia were higher in all subgroups, including patients with severe (aHR 1.25; 95% CI 1.12-1.39) and mild (aHR 1.35; 95% CI 1.30-1.41) psoriasis, and in patients with (aHR 1.46; 95% CI 1.22-1.74) and without (aHR 1.33; 95% CI 1.28-1.39) psoriatic arthritis. LIMITATIONS: The National Health Insurance Research Database did not contain information regarding Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, cigarette smoking, or alcohol consumption. CONCLUSION:Patients with psoriasis were at higher risk of developing arrhythmia, particularly for those with psoriatic arthritis, independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors.