Rosacea and Cardiovascular Risk

Benjamin Unger discusses the relationship between rosacea and cardiovascular risk, emphasizing the need for better understanding of rosacea's varied phenotypes—erythematotelangiectatic, papulopustular, phymatous, and ocular. Despite a general prevalence estimate of approximately 5.5% among adults in the U.S., reports suggest significant underdiagnosis, particularly in skin of color populations, potentially linked to both true prevalence and underreporting. The systemic nature of rosacea and its associations with various comorbidities, including psychiatric disorders like depression and other systemic diseases, position it as a potential risk factor for cardiovascular issues. Inflammation, a key component of both rosacea and atherosclerosis, underlines the concern. Unger notes mixed findings in the literature about the link between rosacea and cardiovascular diseases, indicating the need for larger and more uniform studies. Utilizing the Dataderm database allows for in-depth exploration of this relationship using dermatologist-diagnosed rosacea cases. Findings so far suggest higher risks of endocrine and metabolic disorders among rosacea patients, though some results, like decreased hypertension risk, remain inconclusive. The discussion highlights the importance of accurate documentation in dermatological practice, and collaborative efforts are needed to enhance understanding of the connections between dermatological and systemic diseases, suggesting future research could be elaborated further using integrated databases.