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Psoriasis - a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin - and cardiovascular risk factors are more prevalent among patients with psoriasis compared to those patients without it, according to a new study. 

The study included 1,322 patients with psoriasis and hypertension and 11,977 controls with hypertension but without psoriasis, according to the press release.

Researchers examined the effect of psoriasis and its severity (which was measured by affected body surface area) on blood pressure control among patients with hypertension. They found that a "dose-response relationship" between uncontrolled hypertension and psoriasis severity, increased with severity of the skin condition. Hence, the likelihood of uncontrolled hypertension was greatest among patients with moderate and severe psoriasis, the press release added. 

Researchers also noted that patients with psoriasis were equally as likely to be receiving antihypertensive treatment as were patients without psoriasis. 

"Adding to the currently limited understanding of the effects of comorbid disease on hypertension, our findings have important clinical implications, suggesting a need for more effective management of blood pressure in patients with psoriasis, especially those with more extensive skin involvement [greater than or equal to 3 percent of body surface area affected]," researchers wrote. 

The study was published in the journal JAMA Dermatology.