A large national survey analysis found psoriasis was strongly associated with both airway conditions.

A 2023 national survey analysis found psoriasis was associated with higher odds of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. The associations held across multiple adjusted statistical models, though the estimates became smaller with more adjustment. Psoriasis also showed substantial predictive power for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in one model.

Quick summary

• What the study found: Psoriasis was associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma; in the most adjusted model, odds were 1.54 times higher for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 1.32 times higher for asthma.
• Why it matters: Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory condition, and the results support closer attention to respiratory health in people with psoriasis.
• What to be careful about: This was an association study using survey data, so it cannot prove psoriasis causes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma.

What was found

In the journal article Exploring the risk association between psoriasis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and asthma using the NHIS database, researchers analyzed 2023 National Health Interview Survey data from 27,106 participants.

They examined how psoriasis related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma using multivariate logistic regression and risk stratification analysis, and assessed prediction using receiver operating characteristic analysis.

Across models, psoriasis showed a strong association with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and a similar association with asthma. In the most adjusted model, the odds ratio was 1.54 for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 1.32 for asthma.

For chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the receiver operating characteristic analysis based on the most adjusted model showed an area under the curve of 0.881, suggesting substantial predictive power in that model.

What it means

Psoriasis is typically thought of as a skin disease, but it is also systemic, involving immune activity and inflammation beyond the skin. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma are chronic airway disorders that also involve inflammation.

This study’s pattern is consistent with the idea that inflammatory conditions may cluster in the same person. It also suggests that when psoriasis is present, clinicians may want a lower threshold to ask about chronic respiratory symptoms.

Where it fits

The study highlights shared inflammatory pathways as a rationale for looking at psoriasis alongside airway disease. That framing supports integrated care rather than treating psoriasis as isolated to dermatology.

It also matters that the baseline characteristics differed across many factors, including smoking habits, mental health, disability, and cardiometabolic and cardiovascular history. Those differences are a reminder that psoriasis often shows up in complex health contexts.

How to use it

If you work with patients who have psoriasis, add quick respiratory check-ins: chronic cough, wheeze, shortness of breath, activity limitation, and any history of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Encourage follow-up when symptoms are persistent or worsening.

Smoking habits differed in baseline characteristics, and smoking is a major practical risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Supporting smoking cessation is a high-impact step regardless of whether psoriasis is a causal driver.

For patients, the takeaway is not alarm but awareness: psoriasis may come with higher respiratory risk. Track symptoms and bring them up early, especially if function is changing.

Limits & what we still don’t know

This analysis used survey data and statistical associations, so it cannot establish cause and effect. The odds ratios changed across models, implying that adjustment for other factors mattered.

The study does not, in the excerpt provided, specify mechanisms, severity levels, symptom measures, or timing. Without those details, it is unclear whether psoriasis precedes airway disease or whether shared factors drive both.

Closing takeaway

The core result is straightforward: in a large 2023 survey sample, psoriasis was associated with higher odds of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. Treat psoriasis as a potential signal to pay closer attention to breathing and lung health. Use the finding to prompt screening conversations, not to infer causation.

Data in this article is provided by PLOS.

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