Psoriasis is independently associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients 55 years old or older: Results from a population-based study

Abstract

Background: Recent case-control studies observed an increased prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in patients with psoriasis, which is relevant in selecting optimal psoriasis treatment.

Objective: We sought to compare the prevalence of NAFLD in people with psoriasis and those without psoriasis.

Methods: This large prospective population-based cohort study (part of the Rotterdam Study) enrolled elderly participants (>55 years). NAFLD was diagnosed as fatty liver on ultrasonography in the absence of other liver diseases. Participants with psoriasis were identified using a validated algorithm. Multivariable logistic regression model was used to assess whether psoriasis was associated with NAFLD after adjusting for demographic, lifestyle characteristics, and laboratory findings.

Results: In total, 2292 participants were included (mean age 76.2 ± 6.0 years; 58.7% female; mean body mass index 27.4 ± 4.2kg/m(2)) of whom 118 (5.1%) had psoriasis. The prevalence of NAFLD was 46.2% in patients with psoriasis compared with 33.3% for the reference group without psoriasis (P = .005). Psoriasis was significantly associated with NAFLD; after adjustment for alcohol consumption, pack-years and smoking status, presence of metabolic syndrome, and alanine aminotransferase, psoriasis remained a significant predictor of NAFLD (adjusted odds ratio 1.7, 95% confidence interval 1.1-2.6).

Limitations: This was a cross-sectional study.

Conclusion: Elderly participants with psoriasis are 70% more likely to have NAFLD than those without psoriasis independent of common NAFLD risk factors.

Keywords: comorbidity; liver disease; metabolic syndrome; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; psoriasis.