Lipid Abnormalities and Electrocardiographic Changes in Patients With Psoriasis in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory disease primarily affecting the skin and joints, but it also induces systemic inflammation that disrupts metabolic processes. This systemic involvement contributes to a myriad of comorbidities, including diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and psoriatic arthritis. Objective This study aimed to examine the relationship between psoriasis and the development of dyslipidemia and, ultimately, cardiovascular diseases. Materials and methods A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted with a total of 164 individuals (82 psoriasis cases and 82 controls) within a study period of two years (June 2022 to June 2024). The severity of psoriasis was calculated using the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score. Fasting lipid levels and electrocardiography (ECG) were done for patients who consented. Results Among 82 cases, the mean PASI score was 6.89, with the majority (37, 45.1%) having mild psoriasis. The prevalence of dyslipidemia was significantly higher in psoriasis patients (61, 74.3%) compared to controls (34, 41.4%), with the majority (26, 31.71%) having elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. The most commonly observed ECG change among psoriasis patients was rhythm abnormalities (17, 20.7%), followed by conduction block (6, 7.3%) and ischemic changes (5, 6.1%), with ECG changes being more prevalent in cases (33, 40.24%) than controls (25, 30.49%), but with no statistical significance. Conclusion The higher prevalence of dyslipidemia, particularly elevated LDL levels, highlights the need for cardiovascular risk assessment in psoriasis patients. Although ECG changes were observed, their relevance to psoriasis needs to be further studied. Overall, this study emphasizes the importance of comprehensive management strategies addressing both dermatological manifestations and associated systemic conditions to improve patient outcomes in psoriasis.