Do eating disorders accompany metabolic syndrome in psoriasis patients? Results of a preliminary study

Ilknur Altunay¹, Gulsen Tukenmez Demirci¹, Bilge Ates¹, Asli Kucukunal¹, Cigdem Aydin², Oguz Karamustafalioglu³, Yuksel Altuntas^4
1Dermatology Department, Sisli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey; ²Psychology Department, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey; ³Psychiatry Department, Sisli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey; ⁴Internal Medicine Endocrinology Department, Sisli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MBS) has been reported as a frequent comorbidity in psoriatic patients. The main pathogenesis is considered to be inflammation in this association. MBS has been investigated in eating disorders as well. While psoriasis has some psychiatric comorbidities, the link between psoriasis, MBS, and eating disorders (EDs) is unknown.
Method: The study was designed as a cross-sectional, randomized, and controlled trial. A total of 100 patients with psoriasis were included in the study. Sociodemographic data, clinical subtype of psoriasis, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores, and associated diseases were registered for each patient. The criteria for diagnosis of MBS developed by the International Diabetes Foundation (IDF) was used. These are central obesity (waist circumference ≥94 cm in men or ≥80 cm in women), plus two of the following: elevated triglycerides (≥150 mg/dL), reduced high-desity lipoprotein cholesterol (>40 mg/dL for men; >50 mg/dL for women), elevated blood pressure (≥130 mmHg systolic or ≥85 mmHg diastolic), and elevated fasting blood glucose (≥100 mg/dL). Additionally, the Eating Attitude Test (EAT), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and psychiatric interview were performed for all patients.
Results: There were 45 female and 55 male patients, aged between 18 and 85 years old (median 41.12 ± 16.01). MBS was present in 31% of the patients with psoriasis. There was no correlation between the severity of psoriasis and MBS. EAT scores were ≥30 in 7/100 patients. Four out of 31 patients with MBS (12.9%) had ED and 3/69 patients were without MBS (4.3%). Mean ED scores were compared statistically and the difference was significant (EAT = 17.9 ± 9.558 and 11.5 ± 7.204, P <0.001).
Conclusion: Defining risk factors leading to comorbidities is important in psoriasis. EDs seem to have an impact on the development of MBS in psoriasis. Establishment and treatment of EDs in patients with psoriasis may prevent the onset of MBS and other comorbidities due to MBS.

Keywords: obesity, abdominal obesity, binge-eating disorder, anxiety, inflammation