The Risk of Mortality in Patients With Psoriasis

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Abstract
Psoriasis is a common, chronic inflammatory disease of the skin and joints that is heterogeneous in presentation. Approximately 80% to 85% of patients have limited skin involvement, whereas 15% to 20% have more extensive skin involvement that may require systemic therapy.1,2 Psoriasis has been associated with multiple comorbidities, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, and certain internal malignant neoplasms such as lymphoma, and with smoking and alcohol use, all of which could increase the risk of mortality in patients with psoriasis.3-5 In addition, certain systemic therapies for psoriasis may rarely be associated with mortality due to chronic cumulative drug toxicity or idiosyncratic reactions, and the disease itself may lead to death in rare instances.6-9