Rising Atherogenic Index of Plasma Tied to Increased Psoriasis Risk

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A study showed that each 1-unit increase in the atherogenic index of plasma was associated with a 44% increase in the risk of developing psoriasis, indicating that dyslipidemia could be linked to a greater risk of psoriasis development.¹

“Our findings imply that [atherogenic index of plasma] might be useful clinically for determining the severity and risk of psoriasis,” wrote investigators, led by Yanan Tuo, from the department of dermatology at Tianjin Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated Hospital in China.

The atherogenic index of plasma, used to assess the risk of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease, is calculated with triglyceride (TG) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. Research suggests an overlap exists between the inflammatory responses underlying psoriasis and atherosclerosis lesions, and aberrant lipid metabolism may increase the atherosclerosis risk in patients with psoriasis. Additionally, a cross-sectional study of 39 patients showed that the atherogenic index of plasma predicts psoriatic arthritis.²

Despite evidence showing the overlap between the atherogenic index of plasma and psoriasis, no research exists on the connection between the 2. Thus, investigators sought to investigate the association between psoriasis and the atherogenic index of plasma in adults.¹

Leveraging data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2009 to 2014, the team included 8177 participants aged ≥ 18 years (mean age: 47.82 years), representing approximately 60 million individuals in the US. The sample included 51.73% females and 42.10% non-Hispanic White participants. Participants had a mean atherogenic index of plasma of 0.3063, with an interquartile range of < 0.072 for quartile 1, 0.073 to 0.288 for quartile 2, 0.289 to 0.509 for quartile 3, and > 0.509 for quartile 4.

Along with age, race, and gender, the team collected data on other covariates, including smoking status, alcohol drinking status, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), albumin, income-to-poverty ratio, education level, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference. The team found patients with a greater atherogenic index of plasma were more likely to be older, male, non-Hispanic White, have a higher education level, and have a greater likelihood of diabetes, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, smokers, arthritis, chronic bronchitis, and psoriasis compared with participants in the lowest quartile. Patients with a greater atherogenic index of plasma were also more likely to have a greater BMI, waist circumference, LDL-C, and less statin use.

Additionally, investigators saw psoriasis among all quartiles of the atherogenic index of plasma was statistically significant (P < .05). A minimally adjusted model showed that each 1-unit increase in the atherogenic index of plasma was linked to a 44% increase in the risk of developing psoriasis (1.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01 to 2.20).

A subgroup analysis revealed that the association between the atherogenic index of plasma and psoriasis was significantly different between genders (P < .05). The risk of males developing psoriasis increased by 0.86 points per 1-unit increase in atherogenic index of plasma. However, the positive association between the atherogenic index of plasma and psoriasis in females was non-significant.

Investigators wrote that the study’s findings were limited by the inability to test the etiology hypothesis and extrapolation properly. Moreover, they added that the data on patients with psoriasis is low and they did not take into consideration the disease’s severity.

“This cross-sectional study was conducted among 8177 American adults and showed a positive correlation between the AIP and psoriasis, and the risk of psoriasis increased gradually with the increase in the AIP,” investigators concluded. “More excellent prospective investigations need to confirm our conclusions regarding this research topic.”

References

1. ^{Tuo Y, He J, Guo T. Associations between the atherogenic index of plasma and psoriasis among US adults: A cross-sectional study based on NHANES 2009 to 2014. Medicine (Baltimore). 2024 Dec 13;103(50):e40955. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000040955. PMID: 39686463; PMCID: PMC11651505.}
2. ^{Niroumand S, Khajedaluee M, Khadem-Rezaiyan M, Abrishami M, Juya M, Khodaee G, Dadgarmoghaddam M. Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP): A marker of cardiovascular disease. Med J Islam Repub Iran. 2015 Jul 25;29:240. PMID: 26793631; PMCID: PMC4715400.}