Psoriasis patients have increased risk of diabetes development: BMC Study

A recent study published in the Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome journal found those that psoriasis patients have a 48% higher chance of getting diabetes. Nearly 23% of the link between psoriasis and diabetes was found to be caused by obesity, making it a significant mediator.

Diabetes is a chronic autoimmune condition characterized by high blood glucose levels and is a growing global health and financial burden, affecting nearly 10% of the population. Psoriasis which affects 2-4% of people is linked to depression, cardiovascular disease, oral health issues, and kidney disease. Obesity, another rising public health concern, increases the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. While obesity is a known risk factor for diabetes, the link between psoriasis and diabetes remains unclear. This study explored their relationship and assessed whether obesity serves as a mediator.

Data from a total of 21,835 NHANES participants between 2003–2006 to 2009–2014 were included in the study. Body mass index (BMI) and data on diabetes and psoriasis from questionnaires were included in the analysis. Weighted logistic regression was used in the study to investigate the relationship between diabetes and psoriasis.

Smooth curve fitting, stratified by age and gender, was used to investigate the nonlinear association between psoriasis, diabetes, and obesity. Furthermore, the mediation study revealed that the relationship between the prevalence of diabetes and psoriasis was partially mediated by fat.