Shen WC, Chiang HY, Chen PS, et al. - Findings demonstrate a 5-fold higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in relation to bullous pemphigoid (BP), especially in patients without underlying hypertension or CVD or those without prior corticosteroid or diuretic use.

• This is a cohort study wherein 252 patients with BP corroborated by clinical, pathological, or immunofluorescent evidence were individually matched with 1,008 patients without BP by age, gender, and date of dermatology clinic visit.

• Higher CVD mortality at 1 year (7.9% vs 1.3%), 3 years (11.1% vs 2.4%), and 5 years (12.3% vs 3.9%) was seen in BP cases vs matched control patients.

• A 5-fold higher risk of CVD mortality at 1 year (hazard ratio [HR], 5.29), 3 years (HR, 5.79), and 5 years (HR, 4.95) was seen, post-adjusting for potential confounding variables, in patients with BP.

• A higher CVD mortality risk associated with BP was found in patients without a history of hypertension [HR, 7.28 or CVD (HR, 6.59)] and in those without prior diuretic use (HR, 5.75) vs matched control patients.

• BP was linked with higher all-cause mortality in cases without prior corticosteroid use vs control patients (HR 5.65).