Journal Information
Vol. 112. Issue 9.
Pages 867-868 (October 2021)
Vol. 112. Issue 9.
Pages 867-868 (October 2021)
Case and Research Letters
Open Access
Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) and insulin resistance in psoriasis
Índice de evaluación del modelo de homeostasis (HOMA) y resistencia a la insulina en la psoriasis
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D. Romero-Péreza,
Corresponding author
davidromero66@hotmail.com

Corresponding author.
, I. Belinchón Romeroa,b, J.M. Ramos Rincóna,b,c
a Departamento de Dermatología, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL), Alicante, Spain
b Departamento de Medicina Interna, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL), Alicante, Spain
c Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Campus de San Juan, Elche, Alicante, Spain
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Table 1. Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with psoriasis by homeostasis model assessment-insulin residence (HOMA-IR).
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Dear Editor:

Systemic inflammation in psoriasis cause metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease (CVD), with insulin resistance (IR) as a possible pathogenetic factor1–3.

Our working group performed a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of IR by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) in moderate-severe psoriasis patients attended in our Dermatology outpatient clinic. HOMA-IR was calculated in all participants by measuring fasting plasma glucose and insulin levels using the score (Fasting insulin [mIU/L])*(Fasting glucose [mg/dL])/405, and IR was defined as an elevated HOMA-IR (>2.5), based on the original HOMA research5.

Our initial sample consisted of 100 patients. We excluded 19 patients with diabetes, leaving a sample of 81 participants (46 men and 35 women) with a median of age of 46 years (interquartile range [IQR] 35–56]. Median body mass index (BMI) was 28 kg/m2 (IQR 24.5–31.6). Median HOMA-IR was 2.9 (IQR 1.6−5.0) and 49.4% of patients had IR (95% confidence interval [CI] 38.6%–60.0%). Table 1 shows the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients by HOMA-IR score.

Table 1.

Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with psoriasis by homeostasis model assessment-insulin residence (HOMA-IR).

  HOMA-IR  p value  Total  HOMA-IR ≤ 2.5  HOMA-IR > 2.5  OR (95% CI)  p value 
  Median (IQR)    N (%)*  N (%)**  N (%)**     
All  2.9 (1.6−5.0)    81 (100)  41 (50.6)  40 (49.4)     
Sex
Male  2.4 (1.9−4.1)  –  46 (56.8)  26 (55.6)  20 (43.5)  – 
Female  3.1 (1.5−5.3)  0.5  35 (43.5)  15 (42.9)  20 (57.1)  1.7 (0.7−4.3)  0.2 
Age (years)
≤45  2.2 (1.3−3.1)  –  40 (49.4)  27 (67.5)  13 (32.5)   
>45  4.1 (2.1−7.2)  0.002  41 (50.6)  14 (34.1)  27 (65.9)  4.0 (1.6−10)  0.003 
BMI               
<25  1.3 (0.9−2.2)  –  23 (28.3)  20 (87.0)  3 (13.0)   
25−29.9  3.0 (2.0−4.0)  0.001  28 (34.6)  13 (46.4)  15 (53.6)  7.7 (1.8−32)  0.003 
≥30  4.7 (2.6−7.3)  <0.001  30 (37.0)  8 (26.7  22 (73.3)  18.3 (4.3−79)  <0.001 
PASI Score
<5  3.1 (1.6−4.7)    61 (75.3)  30 (49.2)  31 (50.8)   
≥5  2.5 (1.7−5.0)  0.8  20 (24.7)  11 (55.0)  9 (45.0)  0.8 (0.3−2.2)  0.6 
DLQI Score
0−1  3.0 (1.6−5.0)  –  48 (59.3)  24 (50.0)  24 (50.0)     
2−5  2.4 (1.9−3.1)  0.3  19 (23.5)  13 (68.4)  6 (31.6)  0.5 (0.2−1.59  0.2 
≥6  4.9 (2.6−6.9)  0.3  14 (17.3)  4 (28.6)  10 (71.4)  2.5 (0.7−9.0)  0.15 

BMI: body mass index; CI: confidence interval; DLQI: dermatology life quality index; OR: odds ratio; PASI: psoriasis area and severity index.

*

N (%) number (column percentage); N (%).

**

Number (row percentage).

In patients aged more than 45 years, median HOMA-IR was significantly higher than in those aged 45 years or younger (p = 0.002), indicating a correlation between age and HOMA-IR. The prevalence of IR in patients aged over 45 years was 65.9% (odds ratio [OR] 4.0, 95% CI 1.6–10; p = 0.003). BMI was also correlated with higher median HOMA-IR (1.3 in patients with normal weight [BMI < 25 kg/m2], 3.0 in patients who were overweight [BMI 25−29.9 kg/m2], and 4.7 in patients with obesity [BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2]; p = 0.001; Fig. 1). The prevalence of IR > 2.5 was 13.0% in patients with normal weight, 53.6% in patients who were overweight (p < 0.003), and 73.3% in patients with obesity (p < 0.001). It is interesting to note that the values of HOMA-IR were not associated with sex, psoriasis area and severity index (PASI), or the dermatology life quality index (DLQI) (Table 1).

Figure 1.

Linear correlation of age (A) and body mass index (BMI) (B) with homeostasis model assessment-insulin residence (HOMA-IR).

(0.17MB).

IR represents the best predictor of type 2 diabetes mellitus, and it plays a central role in the high cardiovascular risk associated with metabolic syndrome4. In our study population with moderate-to-severe psoriasis the prevalence of IR was high, almost half of the patients (49,4%). Although our study did not have a control group, the overall IR prevalence is much higher than reported in a similar population-based study (approx. 9%)4. We have detected a clear relationship between the IR and the BMI, as shown in Fig. 1. Similarly, Boehncke et al. observed a clear relationship between high BMI and IR3. Interestingly, the values ​​of the HOMA-IR index were not related to the severity of psoriasis defined by PASI in our patients, which contrast with those reported previously, who did detect a significant correlation between PASI and insulin secretion3.

A substantial proportion of psoriasis patients, particularly those with high BMI, will have IR. We would like to emphasize that dermatologists must assume responsibility for preventing, promptly detecting, treating, and caring for those psoriasis patients with subclinical IR and therefore at risk for diabetes and CVD. Hence the HOMA-IR score can help clinicians to achieve it in a simple way.

References
[1]
I. Snekvik, T.I.L. Nilsen, P.R. Romundstad, M. Saunes.
Psoriasis and cardiovascular disease risk factors: the HUNT Study, Norway.
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol, 32 (2018), pp. 776-782
[2]
P. Gisondi, A.C. Fostini, I. Fossà, G. Girolomoni, G. Targher.
Psoriasis and the metabolic syndrome.
[3]
S. Boehncke, D. Thaci, H. Beschmann, R.J. Ludwig, H. Ackermann, K. Badenhoop, et al.
Psoriasis patients show signs of insulin resistance.
Br J Dermatol, 157 (2007), pp. 1249-1251
[4]
M.E. Rogero Blancoa, M.R. Albañil Ballesterosa, M. Sánchez Martina, A. Rabanal Basalo, A. Olivas Domínguez, C. García Lacalle, et al.
Prevalencia de resistencia a insulina en una población de jóvenes adultos. Relación con el estado ponderal.
Endocrinol Nutr, 59 (2012), pp. 98-104
[5]
D.R. Matthews, J.P. Hosker, A.S. Rudenski, B.A. Naylor, D.F. Treacher, R.C. Turner.
Homeostasis model assessment: insulin resistance and beta-cell function from fasting plasma glucose and insulin concentrations in man.
Diabetologica, 28 (1985), pp. 412-419

Please cite this article as: Romero-Pérez D, Belinchón Romero I, Ramos Rincón JM. Índice de evaluación del modelo de homeostasis (HOMA) y resistencia a la insulina en la psoriasis. Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2021;112:867–868.

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