Psoriatic Arthritis Strongly Linked to Metabolic Syndrome, finds study

A new meta-analysis published in the recent issue of Clinical Rheumatology journal revealed that metabolic syndrome (MetS) is significantly more prevalent among patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) when compared with the general population as well as with patients who have psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis. This strong association underscores the need for clinicians to carefully monitor cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors in PsA patients, ensuring early detection and management to reduce long-term complications.

The study analyzed data from over 1,500 screened articles and narrowed findings to 20 high-quality studies, which examined the prevalence of MetS in individuals with PsA when compared to multiple groups: the general population, patients with cutaneous psoriasis (PsO), and patients with other inflammatory arthropathies such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

This systematic review across 3 major medical databases (Ovid Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus) up to February 2024 were pooled and examined using a random-effects model, with bias carefully assessed through funnel plots.

The results revealed a consistently higher prevalence of MetS in PsA patients. When compared to the general population, PsA patients showed a significantly elevated risk (LogOR 0.93). PsA still demonstrated a stronger association with MetS (LogOR 0.63) when compared to RA patients. Also, PsA patients were also at greater risk than those with AS (LogOR 1.04).

No major differences were observed when PsA was compared directly with PsO, suggesting that the underlying metabolic burden may be similar between joint and skin manifestations of the disease (LogOR 0.15, I² 0.63).

When compared to the individuals with RA, PsA was associated with a higher prevalence of central obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, impaired glucose tolerance, and diabetes mellitus. Other components, like low HDL cholesterol and high blood pressure, did not show consistent differences, but the overall trend strongly pointed toward PsA patients being more metabolically vulnerable.

The findings highlight the urgent need for rheumatologists and dermatologists to implement regular metabolic screening in PsA patients. Early detection and proactive management of weight, lipid levels, and glucose control could help reduce long-term cardiovascular complications. Overall, these results emphasize that psoriatic arthritis is not just a joint disease but part of a broader systemic condition that carries a significant metabolic burden.

Source:

Andreasson, S., & Södergren, A. (2025). Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components in psoriatic arthritis compared with general population, cutaneous psoriasis, and other inflammatory arthropathies: a meta-analysis. Clinical Rheumatology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-025-07637-z