Objectives: Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated dermatological disorder. The term “Psoriatic March,” coined by Boehncke et al ., encapsulates the link between psoriasis, chronic inflammation, and heightened cardiovascular risk. The Atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), calculated as log10 (triglycerides/high-density lipoproteincholesterol), is a promising, cost-effective marker for cardiovascular risk assessment. This study aimed to compare the fasting lipid profile of newly diagnosed psoriasis patients with age- and gender-matched controls, assess the AIP in both groups, evaluate its relationship with psoriasis severity using the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI), and determine its significance as a cardiovascular risk marker. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 50 newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve psoriasis patients and 50 age- and gender-matched controls. Fasting lipid profiles were measured in both groups, and AIP was calculated. Data analysis included independent t -tests, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple linear regression to determine independent predictors. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis assessed diagnostic accuracy. A p <0.05 was deemed statistically significant. Results: The mean AIP was significantly elevated in the psoriasis group (0.115 ± 0.092 vs. 0.043 ± 0.078; ( p <0.001). A strong positive correlation existed between AIP and PASI ( r = 0.638, p <0.001). Mean AIP rose progressively with disease severity: Mild (0.064 ± 0.067), moderate (0.166 ± 0.072), and severe (0.236 ± 0.037). In the overall cohort, AIP demonstrated an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.716; at an optimal cut-off of 0.131, it showed 92.0% specificity and 46.0% sensitivity with a significantly improved diagnostic performance in moderate-to-severe cases (Sensitivity = 85%, Specificity = 84%, AUC = 0.924). Limitations: The study is limited by its cross-sectional design, single-center setting, absence of objective cardiac imaging, and small sample size. Therefore, further longitudinal research is needed to confirm these findings. Conclusion: AIP is a simple, cost-effective surrogate marker for assessing early cardiovascular risk in psoriasis patients. The atherogenic risk is directly driven by disease severity, independent of traditional risk factors.
Jaidka et al. (Wed,) studied this question.