Risk of myocardial infarction in psoriasis patients: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis may or may not be associated with a higher risk for myocardial infarction (MI). We sought to assess differences in MI incidence between control, mild psoriasis and severe psoriasis patients. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of Kaiser Permanente Southern California members with psoriasis between 1 January 2004 and 30 June 2012, assessing the risk and incidence rates of MI. RESULTS: There were 50,865 control patients matched to 10,173 patients with mild psoriasis and 19,205 control patients matched to 3841 patients with severe psoriasis. The MI incidence per 1000 person-years for mild psoriasis controls, mild psoriasis, severe psoriasis controls and severe psoriasis were 4.9, 6.7, 3.7 and 5.1, respectively. Upon multivariable analysis, mild psoriasis patients had a significantly higher risk of MI compared to matched control patients {hazard ratio (HR) = 1.31 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14, 1.51]} and severe psoriasis patients had a significantly higher risk of MI compared to matched control patients [HR = 1.28 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.60)]. CONCLUSION: Patients with psoriasis are at higher risk for MI compared to control patients.