Psoriatic disease is a chronic inflammatory condition that can affect the skin (psoriasis), the joints (psoriatic arthritis), or both. In recent years, researchers have learned that psoriatic disease may also increase the risk of cardiovascular problems.
Our study explored whether people with different forms of psoriatic disease show early signs of changes in their blood vessels, even before cardiovascular disease becomes apparent. We compared three groups of patients: those with psoriasis only, those with both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, and those with psoriatic arthritis only.
We found that patients with psoriatic arthritis tended to have stiffer arteries than patients with psoriasis alone. Arterial stiffness is considered an early marker of cardiovascular risk because it may reflect changes in blood vessel health before symptoms develop. We also observed higher blood pressure values and increased levels of some inflammatory markers in patients with arthritis.
These findings suggest that people with psoriatic arthritis may experience early vascular changes that could contribute to future cardiovascular disease. Recognizing these changes early may help healthcare professionals identify patients at higher risk and encourage strategies aimed at preventing long-term cardiovascular complications.