Psoriatic disease linked to increased risk for thyroid conditions

Takeaway

• People with psoriatic disease are at greater risk for incident thyroid diseases including hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroiditis, and specific autoimmune thyroid disease (Grave’s disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis).

Why this matters

• Findings may be helpful in risk stratification for thyroid disease in patients with psoriatic disease.
• Endocrinological consultation may be offered to patients with psoriasis with thyroid symptoms.

Study design

• Study of 13,266 patients with psoriatic arthritis (mean age, 43.17 years), 149,576 with psoriasis alone (mean age, 45.11 years), and 162,842 without psoriasis (mean age, 44.95 years).
• Funding: Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taiwan.

Key results

• Compared with individuals without psoriasis, those with psoriasis arthritis and psoriasis had increased risk for:
  • incident hyperthyroidism: aHR, 1.32 (95% CI, 1.07-1.65) and 1.22 (95% CI, 1.11-1.33), respectively;
  • incident hypothyroidism: aHR, 1.74 (95% CI, 1.34-2.27) and 1.38 (95% CI, 1.23-1.56), respectively;
  • thyroiditis: aHR, 2.05 (95% CI, 1.51-2.77) and 1.42 (95% CI, 1.22-1.64), respectively;
  • Grave’s disease: aHR, 1.38 (95% CI, 1.07-1.79) and 1.26 (95% CI, 1.13-1.41), respectively;
  • Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: aHR, 2.09 (95% CI, 1.34-3.24) and 1.47 (95% CI, 1.18-1.82), respectively.

Limitations

• Retrospective design.
• Lack of data on disease severity.