According to the results of a survey, published in JAMA Dermatology, both patients and doctors call for more attention to statin therapy and other means of reducing cardiovascular (CV) risks associated with psoriatic diseases.

The survey using an electronic questionnaire was conducted among 322 patients and 183 dermatologists in the United States. A vast majority of the patients responded in the affirmative to the statement - "would like it if my dermatologist/rheumatologist educated me about my risk of heart disease" - and that it would be helpful "to have my cholesterol checked by my dermatologist/rheumatologist." Around two-thirds of the doctors were of the opinion that it was possible for them to monitor the patients’ lipid levels and evaluate the patients CV risk, in order to ascertain if statin therapy was required. However, they did not really agree to prescribe the drugs themselves.

Around 36% agreed or strongly agreed with the following statement: "I think prescribing statins when they are indicated based on guidelines for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease seems doable.” Nearly 68% agreed when queried if "they would change their practice to screen and manage CVD [disease] risk," including writing statin prescriptions, if a clinical trial demonstrated improvement in patient outcomes with such approach.

Among both patient groups (psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis), over 80% stated that they would agree to the recommendation by the physician to have their lipid levels checked, be it primary care or specialist physicians. Acceptance of statin therapy, if recommended, was around 60%.

The investigators noted that the management of CV risk in patients with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis is suboptimal, and suggest that specialty clinics would be benefitted with the use of care coordinators besides patient education by the physician.

(Source: https://www.medpagetoday.com/dermatology/psoriasis/96741)