Psoriasis and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Adult US Outpatients

Researchers evaluated outpatient US adults with psoriasis to determine if this population carries a higher risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Based on their findings, they established that psoriasis was associated with NAFLD and suggested this relationship should be considered by healthcare providers before prescribing hepatotoxic agents in these patients. Their data were published in JAMA Dermatology.

The cross-sectional study included 5672 patients. Of those patients, 148 (3.0%) had psoriasis and 1558 (26.8%) had NAFLD. The analysts used logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, race, ethnicity, education, family income, marital status, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cycle, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and smoking or alcohol use.

According to the researchers, patients with psoriasis had a higher prevalence of NAFLD compared with those without psoriasis (odds ratio [OR], 1.67; 95% CI, 1.03-2.70). The association with NAFLD was further associated in male patients (OR, 2.16; 95% CI, 1.10-4.24), patients aged 20 to 39 years (OR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.09-5.67), and patients without diabetes (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.05-2.76).

In addition, follow-up sensitivity analyses established an association between psoriasis and NAFLD that excluded hepatotoxic agents (OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.01-2.95) and non-Hispanic Black patients (OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.07-2.87). Researchers also identified a hepatic steatosis index score for defining NAFLD (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.01-2.50).

The study’s authors concluded that outpatient US adults with psoriasis had an increased prevalence of NAFLD. They suggested further investigation into the emerging relationship between psoriasis and NAFLD.

Reference:

Ruan Z, Lu T, Chen Y, et al. Association Between Psoriasis and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Among Outpatient US Adults. JAMA Dermatol. 2022;158(7):745-753. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2022.1609

Link: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/article-abstract/2792451