Is the visceral adiposity index associated with the presence of cardiovascular risk scores and comorbidity in psoriatic disease?

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between cardiovascular risk scores and the visceral adiposity index (VAI) in patients with psoriatic disease (PsD). Methods: A total of 101 PsD patients meeting psoriatic arthritis (CASPAR) criteria and 98 healthy individuals were included in this study. Systematic coronary risk evaluation index (SCORE), Framingham risk score (FS), and VAI values in patients and VAI values in healthy individuals were calculated. Results: The mean body mass index (BMI) (kg/m²) of the patients was 29.63±5.66. According to the SCORE measurements, the patients were classified as low risk, moderate risk, and high risk-53 (52.5%), 45 (44.6%), and 3 (3%), respectively. No patient was found to be at very high risk. According to the FS, the low-risk, moderate-risk, and high-risk patient rates were 72 (71.3%), 22 (21.8%), and 7 (6.9%), respectively. Statistically significantly higher rates of metabolic syndrome, obesity (BMI >30), and VAI levels were found in the PsA group compared to the healthy control group (p<0.05). Statistically significantly higher VAI levels were observed in PsA patients with metabolic syndrome, BMI >30 (obesity), diabetes mellitus, and hypertension compared to patients without these comorbidities (p<0.05). A statistically significant correlation was found between low- and moderate-risk FS and VAI levels of PsA patients. Conclusion: Since VAI can be easily calculated using routine tests, it can provide information about cardiometabolic risks and comorbidities in newly diagnosed PsD patients.