Rosacea is associated with chronic systemic diseases in a skin severity–dependent manner: Results of a case-control study

• Published in: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology Vol. 73; no. 4; pp. 604 - 608
• Main Authors: Rainer, Barbara M., MD, Fischer, Alexander H., BS, Luz Felipe da Silva, Dimitre, Kang, Sewon, MD, Chien, Anna L., MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.10.2015
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cardiovascular Diseases - diagnosis; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Case-Control Studies; case-control study; Comorbidity; Confidence Intervals; Dermatology; Female; Gastroesophageal Reflux - diagnosis; Gastroesophageal Reflux - epidemiology; Humans; Hyperlipidemias - diagnosis; Hyperlipidemias - epidemiology; Hypertension - diagnosis; Hypertension - epidemiology; Logistic Models; Male; Metabolic Diseases - diagnosis; Metabolic Diseases - epidemiology; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Prognosis; Risk Assessment; rosacea; Rosacea - diagnosis; Rosacea - drug therapy; Rosacea - epidemiology; severity; Severity of Illness Index; Sex Factors; systemic disease; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult; severity; cardiovascular disease; GI; OR; rosacea; CI; systemic disease; odds ratio; CVD; gastrointestinal; GERD; comorbidity; case-control study; confidence interval; gastroesophageal reflux disease
• ISSN: 0190-9622; 1097-6787
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2015.07.009

Background Rosacea is a common chronic inflammatory dermatosis of unclear origin. It has been associated with systemic comorbidities, but methodical studies addressing this association are lacking. Objective We evaluated: (1) the association between rosacea and systemic comorbidities; and (2) if the severity of rosacea is impacted by comorbidities. Methods This was a case-control study: patients with rosacea were matched (1:1) to rosacea-free control subjects by age, sex, and race. Relative risk estimates were calculated using logistic regression as odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Results Among 130 participants (65 patients/65 control subjects), we observed a significant association between rosacea and allergies (airborne, food), respiratory diseases, gastroesophageal reflux disease, other gastrointestinal diseases, hypertension, metabolic and urogenital diseases, and female hormone imbalance. Compared with mild rosacea, moderate to severe rosacea was significantly associated with hyperlipidemia, hypertension, metabolic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Limitations This was a case-control study with moderate sample size. Associated medical conditions were self-reported and could not always be confirmed by medication use and medical records. Conclusions Rosacea is associated with numerous systemic comorbid diseases in a skin severity–dependent manner. Physicians should be aware of these associations to provide comprehensive care to patients with rosacea, especially to those with more severe disease.