Psoriatic arthritis and cardiovascular diseases

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) such as myocardial infarction, stroke, arrhythmias, and conduction disorders. Traditional risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and obesity may only partly explain the increased risk. Many factors, including chronic inflammation, metabolic syndrome, autonomic dysfunction, and endothelial dysfunction, may play a role in increasing the risk of CVD. PsA is associated with direct myocardial damage, left ventricular remodeling, electrocardiographic abnormalities, and arrhythmias, including fatal ones. This review considers the main CVDs, risk factors, the mechanisms of influence of PsA and its activity and phenotypes on these risk factors, as well as the possible interventions to reduce the risk of CVD in patients with PsA.