Association skin tags and carbohydrate and lipids metabolism in outpatients at AL-Assad Hospital


Abstract in English

Skin tags are common benign skin tumors usually occurring on the neck and major flexors of older people. Objective: To investigate and compare the prevalence of diabetes and disorders of triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL, and HDL levels in patients with skin tags and a control group. A case-control study was conducted in individuals between (25-70) years old, comparing cases (n=107) and age-, sex-matched controls (n=97) without skin tag. Cases and controls were recruited from patients consecutively seen at the outpatient dermatology clinic at Al-Assad University Hospital in Lattakia. All patients underwent standard laboratory tests of fasting blood sugar , triglycerides , cholesterol , LDL , and HDL levels. Results: Patients with skin tags had higher frequency of diabetes and higher levels of triglycerides , cholesterol , and LDL than the control group (P <=0.0001) and lower levels of HDL in patients with skin tags than the control group (P<=0.001). A positive correlation was found between the existing of skin tags and high BMI comparing with the control group (P<=0.0001). According to our results, skin tags might be a useful clinical sign that could alert clinicians to screen patients with skin tags for abnormal lipids, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease, and guide patients with skin tags to modify their life style, avoiding risk factors and making clinical laboratory check-up periodically

References used

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