RISK OF RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION IN PATIENTS WITH PSORIASIS A Population-Based Cohort Study

Purpose: To investigate the risk of developing retinal vein occlusion (RVO) in patients with psoriasis. Methods: In this retrospective population-based cohort study, 30,198 patients with psoriasis (Psoriasis((+)) group) and 30,198 controls without psoriasis (Psoriasis((-)) group) between 2001 and 2006 from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database were selected. Results: The incidence of RVO was 1.46 times higher in the Psoriasis((+)) group than in the Psoriasis((-)) group (3.61 vs. 2.47/10,000 person-years) (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.50; 95% confidence interval = 1.07-2.10) calculated using Cox proportional hazard regression. Age was an independent risk factor for RVO (adjusted hazard ratio: 11.9 for patients 65 years or older vs. 1.00 for those 0-49 years old). In the 65 years or older Psoriasis((+)) group, the incidence of developing RVO was 1.97 times higher (95% confidence interval = 1.19-3.26) than in the 65 years or older Psoriasis((-)) group. In Psoriasis((+)) women, the incidence of developing RVO was 1.82 times higher (95% = 1.05-3.14) than in Psoriasis((-)) women. For the subgroup with comorbid hypertension, the incidence of developing RVO was 2.07 times higher (95% confidence interval = 1.22-3.50) in the Psoriasis((+)) group than in the Psoriasis((-)) group. Conclusion: Psoriasis was significantly associated with a higher risk of developing RVO.