Psoriasis, heart attacks linked

Philadelphia - Adults with psoriasis, especially younger patients with severe psoriasis, appear to be at increased risk for a heart attack, according to a study in the Oct. 11 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, found that the incidence of heart attack was higher in patients with severe psoriasis (5.13 per 1,000 person-years) and mild psoriasis (4.04 per 1,000 person-years) compared with control patients (3.58 per 1,000 person-years).

Patients who were younger and had severe psoriasis had the highest rate.