The Role of the Dermatologist in Reducing Cardiovascular
Risk in Psoriasis

Dr. Joel Gelfand presented information about cardiovascular (CV) risk in people with psoriasis and how dermatologists can recognize and reduce CV outcomes in these patients.

First, Gelfand described the relationship between psoriasis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the clinical significance of CV risk in patients with psoriasis. People with psoriasis are at increased risk of major adverse CV events, CV death, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes. Patients with psoriasis have a higher prevalence of traditional CV risk factors and an increased risk for CV mortality with a 5-year reduction in life expectancy. Psoriasis confers risk for diabetes and a similar risk to CVD as does rheumatoid arthritis. CV mortality is the leading excess cause of death in people with psoriasis.

CV risk factors are under-screened and under-managed in patients with psoriasis. Less than 3% of adult patients aged ≥40 years seen by a dermatologist for psoriasis are screened for cholesterol and glucose concentrations, and <10% are screened for high blood pressure. Only 24% of patients with psoriasis who are eligible for a statin for primary prevention of hypercholesterolemia are taking them. Patients with psoriasis and diabetes are less likely to receive statins as recommended by US-based guidelines compared with people with diabetes alone. Gelfand emphasized that insufficient identification and treatment of CV risk factors result in preventable morbidity and mortality in people with psoriasis. He reviewed the results of clinical trials evaluating the CV risk of targeted therapies for psoriasis and concluded that there is insufficient evidence to conclude that biologics for psoriasis reliably lower CV risk, and found insufficient evidence that biologics reliably lower that risk.

Second, Gelfand discussed how dermatologists can help reduce CV risk in patients with psoriasis. The American Academy of Dermatology and National Psoriasis Foundation guidelines on psoriasis and CVD recommend evaluating all patients with psoriasis for CV risk according to national guidelines. Gelfand reviewed guidelines for CV risk assessment and recommended frequencies for CV risk factor screening, including hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes. He presented case studies that demonstrate the important role of dermatologists in monitoring CV risk among their patients with psoriasis.

To conclude, Gelfand shared information about an ongoing pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness of care coordination and CVD prevention in patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

The higher you go on the study design ladder, the stronger the methods get, and the better the study is at reducing bias in its results.

Mark January 28-31, 2026 on your calendar for the 2026 Annual DF Clinical Symposium.