Abstract
BACKGROUND: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) has been closely associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Nevertheless, the connection between Life's Crucial 9 (LC9), which serves as a holistic measure of cardiovascular health (CVH), and PsA remains insufficiently studied. This research aims to explore the potential relationship between LC9 and the prevalence of PsA. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of LC9 in PsA and explore its implications. METHODS: This study utilized a cross-sectional, population-based design, analyzing data from 7,531 U.S. participants aged 20 years or older, drawn from the 2005-2006 and 2009-2014 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The LC9 score, which encompasses nine distinct components, was classified into three CVH categories: low, moderate, and high. To explore the association between LC9 scores and the prevalence of PsA, logistic regression models and restricted cubic splines were applied. RESULTS: In the analyzed cohort of 7,531 individuals, participants with moderate or high CVH levels demonstrated a markedly reduced likelihood of developing PsA relative to those with low CVH. Additionally, a 10-point elevation in the LC9 score was associated with a 32% lower odds of having PsA. A notable interaction between LC9 and age was detected. Conversely, no meaningful link was found between LC9 and psoriasis without arthritis (PsC). CONCLUSION: The LC9 score and its subcomponents are significantly negatively correlated with the risk of PsA. This suggests that adherence to the lifestyle defined by LC9 is associated with a lower prevalence of PsA.