Researchers have recently found that psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and psoriasis are linked to an increased risk for osteoporotic fracture development. The study, which has been published in the journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases claims that adults with severe psoriasis are perceived to be more than twice as likely as their peers in the general population to experience vertebral fractures. Thus, the researchers points out that patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are at risk for sustaining a fracture of any type.
Psoriasis And Fracture Risk: What's The Link?
According to reports revealed by Endocrinology Advisor, Alexis Ogdie, MD, MSCE, of the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, together with his colleagues, have allegedly conducted a population-based cohort study in patients with either PsA or psoriasis. Consequently, it was found that patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and unexposed controls to determine the relationship between fracture risk, osteoporosis, and PsA or psoriasis diagnosis. Furthermore, experts have long known that previous studies have already suggested a relationship between psoriasis and PsA and osteoporosis/osteopenia. However, Ogdie has claimed that this is one of the first studies to evaluate the risk for incident facture in patients with these conditions.
The Study Proposition
Meanwhile, as per Medscape, in conducting their study, researchers have noted that patients with PsA, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis were reportedly determined by the presence of at least one diagnostic code consistent with these conditions. It was found that severe psoriasis, on the other hand, was reportedly defined through the presence of a diagnostic code for psoriasis and a code for treatment with phototherapy or systemic medication. Moreover, experts have also revealed that relative to the control population, patients with PsA and psoriasis had an increased prevalence of risk factors for osteoporosis and fracture, including diabetes, alcohol abuse, smoking, depression, antidepressant use, corticosteroids, methotrexate and cyclosporine.
