Assessment of the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with rosacea.

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have shown a higher prevalence of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors in patients with rosacea. However, it remains unknown whether rosacea represents an independent CV risk factor.

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, CV death, major adverse CV events, and all-cause mortality, respectively.

METHODS

Between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 2012, a total of 4948 patients with rosacea were identified and matched with 23,823 control subjects. We used Poisson regression to calculate incidence rate ratios.

RESULTS

Adjusted incidence rate ratios were 0.75 (95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.57-1.00) for myocardial infarction, 1.08 (95% CI 0.86-1.35) for ischemic stroke, 1.01 (95% CI 0.61-1.67) for hemorrhagic stroke, 0.99 (95% CI 0.80-1.24) for CV death, 0.99 (95% CI 0.86-1.15) for major adverse CV events, and 0.95 (95% CI 0.85-1.06) for all-cause mortality.

LIMITATIONS: We were unable to distinguish between the different subtypes and severities of rosacea.

CONCLUSIONS

In this population-based study, rosacea was not associated with increased risk of adverse CV outcomes or death.