GLP-1RA Use Associated With Lower Cardiovascular Event Risk in Patients With Psoriasis
A recent observational retrospective cohort study found that patients with psoriasis initiating glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) had a significantly lower incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) compared with matched controls who did not use GLP-1RA. These findings suggest a potential cardioprotective role for GLP-1RA in this high-risk population. The study was presented at the American College of Cardiology's 74th Annual Scientific Session & Expo on March 29, 2025, in Chicago, IL.
Psoriasis is an independent risk factor for MACE, and prior research hapsos shown that even with biologic and statin therapy, patients with psoriasis and dyslipidemia remain at elevated cardiovascular risk. GLP-1RA have demonstrated benefits in reducing MACE in individuals with type 2 diabetes and obesity, both of which commonly co-occur with psoriasis. However, the association between GLP-1RA and cardiovascular outcomes in psoriasis patients has not been well established.
To explore this relationship, researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study using a large, multi-center electronic health record database (TriNetX) from 2014 to 2024. They identified patients with psoriasis aged 18 to 90 who initiated GLP-1RA therapy after their first psoriasis diagnosis and had no prior history of MACE. These individuals were propensity score matched (PSM) 1:1 with non-users based on demographic characteristics, social risk factors, comorbidities (e.g., obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia), medications, and laboratory values. The primary outcome was the incidence of composite MACE over a 10-year period.
A total of 4791 psoriasis patients receiving GLP-1RA and 123,262 non-users were identified, with PSM resulting in 4378 patients in each group. Before matching, GLP-1RA users were older (median 53 vs 49 years), more likely to be female (55% vs 47%), and had higher rates of obesity (64% vs 12%), diabetes (55% vs 7%), dyslipidemia (61% vs 20%), and social challenges (10% vs 3%) compared with non-users. After matching, MACE occurred in 355 (8.11%) GLP-1RA users versus 588 (13.43%) non-users, corresponding to a significantly lower odds ratio of 0.57 (95% CI, 0.50-0.65) over 10 years.
“GLP-1RAs were associated with a lower incidence of 3-point MACE in patients with psoriasis compared to controls, providing preliminary evidence of their potential role in MACE prevention among this population,” said study author Ana Ormaza Vera, MD, in an interview with Consultant360. “While the cardiovascular benefits of GLP-1RAs in psoriasis are largely attributed to weight loss, emerging evidence suggests these agents may also have direct anti-inflammatory properties.”
“GLP-1RA were associated with a lower incidence of MACE in patients with psoriasis compared to controls,” the study authors concluded. “These findings provide preliminary evidence of the potential benefit of GLP-1RA for MACE prevention among patients with psoriasis.”
Reference
Ormaza Vera A, Osorio MF, Olexson M, et al. Major adverse cardiovascular events are less frequent in psoriasis patients starting GLP-1RA compared to controls: An observational retrospective cohort study. Paper presented at: American College of Cardiology's 74th Annual Scientific Session & Expo; March 29-31, 2025; Chicago, IL. Accessed March 20, 2025. https://accscientificsession.acc.org/