Psoriasis Patients Face Elevated Metabolic Syndrome Risk

Individuals with psoriasis are at a heightened risk of developing metabolic syndrome, according to recent research. This finding underscores the need for vigilant monitoring and proactive health management within this patient population.

Psoriasis as a MetS Risk Factor

A new study reveals that psoriasis significantly increases the likelihood of metabolic syndrome (MetS). The study further suggests that the severity of the psoriasis directly impacts the risk of MetS. The greater the inflammatory burden, the higher the metabolic disorder risk, as noted by the research.

Early recognition of MetS in psoriasis patients is critical for mitigating long-term health risks and improving clinical outcomes. Therefore, elucidating the relationship between the two can provide a basis for early clinical intervention and reduce the risk of comorbidities.

— World Today News (@worldtodaynews) June 16, 2025

“Early recognition of MetS in psoriasis patients is critical for mitigating long-term health risks and improving clinical outcomes,”

—Xiaoyan Zhang, China-Japan Friendship Hospital

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 37% of U.S. adults have metabolic syndrome, highlighting the broad public health relevance of this research (CDC, 2024).

Study Methodology

Researchers conducted a thorough analysis of studies on psoriasis and MetS. The investigation considered articles from databases like CNKI, PubMed, and Web of Science. The search encompassed publications up to February 2025, aiming to find all relevant studies.

The inclusion criteria for the analysis consisted of observational designs, such as cross-sectional and prospective studies. Studies needed to feature a psoriasis case group and a control group. Furthermore, the diagnosis had to be clinically or pathologically confirmed.

Key Findings

The meta-analysis included 14 articles involving 9,641 patients with psoriasis. The collective prevalence of clinically significant metabolic dysregulation among the psoriasis cases reached 26.49%. When compared to control groups, psoriasis patients showed higher odds ratios for MetS.

In patients with severe psoriasis, a higher risk of developing MetS was identified. The study revealed a positive linear trend between PASI scores and MetS incidence. This indicated a link between disease severity and the chances of developing MetS.

Call to Action

The investigators concluded that clinicians should pay closer attention to the metabolic health of psoriasis patients. Regular monitoring, alongside early intervention measures, is vital to prevent the onset of MetS. They emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary collaborations to improve patient care.

New Respiratory Treatments Reshape Asthma and COPD Care

Advances in respiratory medicine are transforming asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management, moving away from generalized treatments to personalized approaches. These changes are expanding treatment options and redefining long-term disease control for individuals once considered hard to treat.

Biologics Revolutionize Asthma Management

Biologic therapies have been central to this shift in asthma care. New drugs like dupilumab (Dupixent), benralizumab (Fasenra), and tezepelumab (Tezspire) have set new standards for effective intervention. The approval of tezepelumab in 2021, the first biologic for severe asthma not limited by eosinophil count, broadened treatment options. This progress is also strengthening collaboration between allergists and pulmonologists.

COPD management is starting to see similar innovation, with the 2024 FDA approval of dupilumab for eosinophilic COPD marking a significant step. As the lines between asthma and COPD continue to blur, clinicians need to reevaluate traditional treatment pathways.

Expert Insights on Emerging Therapies

A recent clinical forum brought together pulmonologists and allergists to discuss the updates in respiratory care, led by pulmonologist Joseph Khabbaza, MD, of Cleveland Clinic. Panelists discussed the central role of biologics in modern asthma management, particularly for those with type 2 inflammation. The use of biomarkers like eosinophils and FeNO has also grown substantially.

“I’ve been more aggressive with, if my patient needs steroids more than twice in 6 months or so, I’m pulling the trigger faster and faster, even without long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA), just because I first-hand know the major long-term side effects of steroids 10 years, 15 years down the road,”

—Forum Participant

Another shift is that pulmonologists are managing biologics more often, and initiating them earlier to reduce steroid use and prevent long-term problems, despite payer criteria. The global prevalence of COPD is estimated to be around 10% of adults aged 40 years and over, highlighting the scale of the issue (World Health Organization, 2024).

Future Directions in Respiratory Care

COPD management is beginning to adopt similar principles, recognizing that some patients with type 2 inflammation may benefit from biologics. Panelists emphasized the need for longer-acting biologics, better phenotyping, and broader eligibility definitions, especially for COPD patients.

“Asthma and COPD have evolved over the last few years and with a lot of thinking about eosinophils and type 2 inflammation, and we now have more pathways and more treatments than ever before to try to help these patients. And we want to minimize prednisone, and minimize exacerbation. I think those are- If we can do those two things in asthma and COPD patients, that’ll be good for everyone in the system,” Khabbaza concluded.