Higher WWI Linked to Increased Mortality Rates in Psoriasis Patients

New research indicates a strong positive correlation between weight-adjusted waist index (WWI) and all-cause mortality in psoriasis patients.

Researchers at Wenzhou Medical University in China published “Weight-Adjusted Waist Index, Psoriasis, and All-Cause Mortality: Findings from the NHANES 2003-2006 and 2009-2014” in the January issue of Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology.

Utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a retrospective cohort analysis was conducted with 19,919 participants ages 18 to 80, with or without psoriasis. The primary endpoint studied was all-encompassing mortality up to December 2019.

“A significant correlation was found between an incremental unit increase in WWI and a 63% increased risk of all-cause mortality risk in psoriasis patients (HR = 1.63, 95% CI 1.02-2.61),” the authors wrote. “Subgroup analyses demonstrated consistent findings within the psoriasis population. These findings suggest an independent impact of WWI on psoriasis risk and mortality.”