Introduction: Although the relationship of rosacea to
the cardiovascular system is well known, facial flushing
and telangiectasias being two of the primary skin symptoms
of rosacea, recent data indicate a potential connection
between rosacea and cardiovascular disease.
Aim: Cardiovascular disease risk assessment by
identifying cardiovascular risk factors in rosacea patients.
Material and method: We conducted a case-control
study involving 46 patients with rosacea (37 women and 9
males, mean age 49.8±15.18 years) and 39 control nonrosacea
subjects (31 women and 8 males, mean age
47.87±15.11 years) with similar age and gender
characteristics to those in the study group. Demographic
and anthropometric data, medical history and the presence
of cardiovascular risk factors were recorded. Data on the age
of the disease and the clinical subtype of rosacea have been
collected in rosacea patients. Laboratory investigations
including fasting blood glucose, insulin, C-reactive protein,
lipid profile, were performed. The HOMA-IR index and the
Framingham risk score were calculated.
Results: 27 (58.69%) of patients with rosacea had the
erythematotelangiectatic subtype and 19 (41.31%) had
papulopustular subtype. Mean disease duration in the
rosacea group was 10.85±9.08 years. A higher frequency of
HTA (p=0.004), low HDL cholesterol (p=0.037), CRP
(p=0.028) and metabolic syndrome (p=0.047) were
observed in rosacea compared to control group, results that
were associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease
and death according to the Framingham risk score
(p=0.001). No correlation of rosacea subtypes with
cardiovascular risk factors has been identified.
Conclusions: Rosacea patients more commonly
associate cardiovascular risk factors compared to control
subjects, requiring a systematic assessment of these due to
increased risk for cardiovascular disease and death.