Meta-analysis Finds Predictors of Psoriatic Arthritis in Patients With Psoriasis

Psoriasis severity, nail pitting, and higher body mass index (BMI) are among predictors a patient with psoriasis may develop psoriatic arthritis, suggest results from a systematic review and meta-analysis published online ahead of print in Rheumatology and Therapy.

“Identifying predictors and risk factors for the development of psoriatic arthritis among psoriasis patients is a crucial step for the understanding of the pathophysiology of psoriatic arthritis and for the recognition of psoriasis patients that could benefit from psoriatic arthritis interception or early intervention near to psoriatic arthritis onset,” researchers wrote.

To identify predictors, investigators conducted a full reading of 110 previously published cohort studies and case-control studies. Twenty-six were included in the current study.

Potential predictors of psoriatic arthritis included psoriasis severity, nail pitting, arthralgia, musculoskeletal inflammation detected on imaging, higher BMI categories, and a family history of psoriatic arthritis, according to the study. Pooled relative risks for psoriatic arthritis were 2.15 with arthralgia and 3.72 with musculoskeletal inflammation.

The incidence rate of psoriatic arthritis per 100 patient-years varied from 1.34 to 17.4 in outpatient cohort studies.

“This study provides a profile of the psoriasis patients at higher risk of developing psoriatic arthritis and represents a benchmark for a preliminary characterization of the psoriasis-to-psoriatic arthritis march,” researchers wrote, “and for the design of psoriatic arthritis interception trial in psoriasis patients.”

Reference:
Zabotti A, De Lucia O, Sakellariou G, et al. Predictors, risk factors, and incidence rates of psoriatic arthritis development in psoriasis patients: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis [published online ahead of print October 1, 2021]. Rheumatol Ther. doi: 10.1007/s40744-021-00378-w