Prevalence and Clinical Correlates of Metabolic Syndrome in Psoriasis Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Pakistan

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease affecting approximately 2–3% of the global population. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities—central obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension—that heightens the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Objective: To determine the frequency of metabolic syndrome in psoriasis patients presenting to the dermatology unit at a tertiary care hospital in, Pakistan. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted from June 27, 2021, to December 26, 2021, in the dermatology unit. A total of 143 clinically diagnosed psoriasis patients aged 20–60 years of both sexes were enrolled. Key components of metabolic syndrome—including blood pressure, waist circumference, triglyceride levels, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and random blood glucose—were measured in accordance with NCEP ATP III criteria. Results: Among the 143 patients, the mean age was 35.3 ± 9.2 years; 44% were male and 56% were female. The mean Body Mass Index (BMI) was 26.3 ± 3.4 kg/m². The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 45.4%. Statistically significant associations were found between metabolic syndrome and smoking status, diabetes mellitus, elevated blood glucose levels, and increased BMI (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The frequency of metabolic syndrome among psoriasis patients in this cohort was notably high. These findings underscore the need for early screening and comprehensive management of metabolic risk factors in psoriasis patients, particularly in the local Pakistani population. Keywords: Body Mass Index, Cardiovascular Risk, Dermatology, Metabolic Syndrome, Psoriasis.