What are the risk factors for developing psoriatic arthritis?
•Last Updated:
Last Updated:October 13, 2024
Although it isn’t easy to predict whether patients with psoriasis will develop psoriatic arthritis, some potential risk factors have been identified, including:[1]
- Corticosteroid use within 2 years of first developing psoriasis
- Pregnancy within 2 years prior to psoriasis onset[2]
- Trauma that required medical care[3]
- Vaccination against rubella[3]
- Smoking
- Infections requiring hospitalization
- Heavy drinking
- Family history of psoriatic arthritis
- Obesity
It is important to note that the above risk-associations were mostly found through case-control (observational) studies, so it isn’t yet clear whether they play a causative role in developing the disease.
1.^Ogdie A, Gelfand JMClinical Risk Factors for the Development of Psoriatic Arthritis Among Patients with Psoriasis: A Review of Available Evidence.Curr Rheumatol Rep.(2015-Oct)
2.^Thumboo J, Uramoto K, Shbeeb MI, O'Fallon WM, Crowson CS, Gibson LE, Michet CJ, Gabriel SERisk factors for the development of psoriatic arthritis: a population based nested case control study.J Rheumatol.(2002-Apr)
3.^Pattison E, Harrison BJ, Griffiths CE, Silman AJ, Bruce INEnvironmental risk factors for the development of psoriatic arthritis: results from a case-control study.Ann Rheum Dis.(2008-May)