A recent study from researchers at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University has uncovered a possible genetic link between psoriasis—a common skin condition—and several serious heart diseases. Led by Ning Gao and published in Frontiers in Immunology, the research offers new insight into the broader health risks faced by people living with psoriasis.
Psoriasis is a chronic condition where the body’s immune system causes skin cells to grow too quickly, leading to patches of red, itchy, and flaky skin. These patches usually appear on areas like the elbows, knees, or scalp.
While it is often seen as a skin problem, psoriasis actually affects the whole body through ongoing inflammation. The condition is influenced by a mix of genetics, immune system changes, and environmental triggers such as stress, infections, or cold weather.
Although psoriasis cannot be cured, treatments like medicated creams, light therapy, and immune-suppressing drugs can help control the symptoms and reduce flare-ups. But the new study shows that the risks may go beyond the skin.
To investigate this, the researchers used genetic data from a large study of people of European background. Their goal was to see whether people who are genetically more likely to develop psoriasis also have a higher risk of heart disease.
This type of research uses a method called Mendelian randomization, which helps show whether one condition might actually cause another, rather than just being linked by coincidence.
Their findings were clear. People with a genetic tendency toward psoriasis were more likely to develop several serious heart problems, including:
- Heart failure
- Atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat)
- Heart attacks
- Valvular heart disease (problems with heart valves)
- Large artery stroke
However, they did not find a link between psoriasis and other types of stroke, such as cardioembolic stroke or small vessel stroke.
To make sure the results were reliable, the team tested how much other factors might have affected the results. Their analysis found only weak signs that outside factors had influenced the findings, which adds strength to their conclusion: there is likely a real, causal connection between psoriasis and certain types of heart disease.
This is especially important because heart disease is one of the top causes of death worldwide. The study adds to earlier research that has also shown higher rates of heart problems in people with psoriasis. Together, the evidence suggests that people with psoriasis—especially those with moderate to severe forms—should be regularly checked for heart issues.
This research also shows why doctors need to take a whole-body approach when treating psoriasis. It’s not just a skin disease. Patients may benefit from early screening and preventive steps to reduce the risk of heart problems. This could include monitoring blood pressure, cholesterol, and other heart-related factors alongside psoriasis care.
In short, this discovery reminds both patients and healthcare providers that psoriasis can affect more than just the skin. By recognizing and treating the hidden risks, it may be possible to improve not only skin health, but also long-term heart health and overall quality of life.
If you care about heart health, please read studies that vitamin K helps cut heart disease risk by a third, and a year of exercise reversed worrisome heart failure.
For more health information, please see recent studies about supplements that could help prevent heart disease, stroke, and results showing this food ingredient may strongly increase heart disease death risk.
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