Psoriasis Patients At Increased Risk Of High Blood Pressure

New findings published in JAMA Dermatology suggest that those suffering from psoriasis could be at an increased risk of high blood pressure, as well.

Researchers analyzed data on more than 13,000 adults in the United Kingdom, and found that 48 percent of severe psoriasis patients were prone to uncontrollably high blood pressure. However, researchers are still uncertain as to what could be causing the link.

"We still don't fully understand why we see a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in people with psoriasis," said lead study author Dr. Junko Takeshita, a clinical instructor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, in a news release. 

Yet researchers are suspicious that chronic inflammation could be the cause of this health issue. 

After adjusting for factors that include the participants' age, body mass index (BMI), and use of alcohol and smoking, researchers found that those with psoriasis and high blood pressure had at least 140 mm HG or a diastolic blood pressure of at least 90 mmHg, compared to those who did not have the health issue.

Furthermore, researchers found that some only affected 10 percent of their skin, whereas nearly 60 percent had uncontrolled hypertension while the participants with moderate psoriasis or those with at least 3 percent of the skin affected, only had about 20 percent odds for uncontrolled blood pressure.

"Among patients with hypertension, psoriasis was associated with a greater likelihood of uncontrolled hypertension in a dose-dependent manner, with the greatest likelihood observed among those with moderate to severe psoriasis defined by 3% or more of the body surface area affected," researchers concluded.