Dermatological Comorbidities Accompanying Rosacea and Their Relationship with Clinical and Demographic Features, Quality of Life, and Systemic Comorbidities: A Retrospective, Case-Controlled, Multicenter Survey

Abstract

Introduction: As rosacea patients are generally light-skinned and photosensitized some sun-related skin findings are likely to be observed. This study aimed to determine which dermatological comorbidities accompany rosacea and evaluate their relationship with clinical, demographic, quality-of-life, and systemic comorbidities. Methods: This case-control multicenter study was conducted by the Turkish Society of Dermatology Acne Study Group. Patient demographics, clinical findings, lifestyle data, medical history, and dermatological comorbidities were collected using a structured physician-administered questionnaire. All patients completed the Dermatology Life Quality Index. Results: The study included 922 rosacea patients and 799 controls without rosacea. Rosacea patients had higher dermatological comorbidities than controls. The prevalence of skin comorbidities increased as patient age and duration of rosacea increased. Additionally, these skin comorbidities negatively affected quality of life. Some dermatological comorbidities, especially civatte poikiloderma, had strongest predictive risk (odds ratio >= 3) of significant systemic comorbidities. Conclusion: Based on the present findings, clinicians should also assess rosacea patients for cutaneous dermatological comorbidities. Presence of skin comorbidities increased as patient age and duration of rosacea increased and might be predictive of systemic comorbidities. (c) 2025 S. Karger AG, Basel