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Excessive body-weight and smoking increase the risk of onset of plaque-psoriasis

A population-based case-control study investigated the effects of body weight, alcohol and smoking on the risk of psoriasis onset in 373 cases of first-time plaque psoriasis and matched controls. The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) was used to measure psoriasis activity. For each increment of body mass index (BMI) there was a significant 9% increased risk for psoriasis onset and a 7% increased risk of increased PASI. A BMI of 30 or more increased the risk of psoriasis onset twofold and smoking increased the risk by 70% (unrelated to the PASI). A positive association was seen with alcohol but only in males. No association between weight gain and smokeless ...