A new case-control study carried out by the John Hopkins University in Baltimore has brought to light the fact that rosacea patients are likely at higher risk for a range of comorbid chronic diseases occurring at once, including allergies as well as urogenital disorders. Comorbidity refers to the presence of two disorders or illnesses occurring in the same person, simultaneously or sequentially.
Dr. Rainer of John Hopkins explained that the reason for such a diverse number of diseases is likely owed to the systemic inflammation found in rosacea patients. However, despite this, he pointed out that the most important thing to do is to ensure physicians are on the lookout for such conditions in their rosacea patients.
The study presented involved 130 subjects: 65 rosacea patients and an equal number of controls matched for age, sex, and race. The most common comorbidity was food allergies, followed by urogenital disorders. The rosacea patients averaged 50 years of age and had a mean 11.8-year history of their skin disease. Body mass index, smoking status, alcohol intake, and coffee consumption were similar in cases and controls and it should be noted that two-thirds of subjects were women.
What does this mean for you, as a rosacea patient? Ensure you bring this recent research to light the next time you visit your physician, so that both you and your doctor are aware of the potential risks that your condition poses to your body. The more informed both doctor and patient are, the more likely you are able to stop another illness developing to a high capacity.