ASSOCIATION OF PSORIASIS AND SERUM URIC ACID LEVELS: A CASE CONTROL STUDY

Abstract

Objective: To determine the association between psoriasis and serum uric acid levels.

Study Design: Case control study.

Place and Duration of Study: Study was conducted at Department of Dermatology, Pakistan Air Force Hospital Islamabad, from Jan 2017 to Jul 2017.

Material and Methods: This study involved 31 psoriatic subjects of both genders aged between 18-70 years. Subjects were matched with 31 healthy volunteers from PAF Hospital staff. Serum uric acid level was tested in all the study participants. Outcome variable was frequency of hyperuricemia among cases and controls.

Results: The age of the subjects ranged from 18 years to 70 years with a mean of 39.47 ± 13.92 years. Majority (n=37, 59.7%) of the subjects were aged under 45 years. There were 35 (56.5%) male and 27 (43.5%) female subjects with a male to female ratio of 1.3:1. There were 20 (32.3%) obese subjects. Mean serum uric acid was significantly higher among cases (5.89 ± 1.28 vs. 4.76 ± 1.44 mg/dl; p=0.002) as compared to controls. Frequency of hyperuricemia was significantly higher among cases (25.8% vs. 6.5%; p=0.038; OR=5.043; 95% CI: 0.975 – 26.086) as compared to controls.

Conclusion: Mean serum uric acid and frequency of hyperuricemia was found to be significantly higher among cases (25.8% vs. 6.5%; p=0.038) as compared to controls irrespective of age, gender and obesity status of patient.