Cross-Sectional Study of the Association Between Skin Tags and Vascular Risk Factors in a Bariatric Clinic-Based Cohort of Irish Adults with Morbid Obesity

In a cross-sectional study of 100 Irish adults with morbid obesity, Fang et al. discovered an association between the presence of skin tags and increased vascular risk factors. The study, comprising 31 males and 69 females, showed that participants with skin tags had significantly higher systolic blood pressure and HbA1c levels than those without. Additionally, a higher percentage of patients with diabetes had skin tags compared to non-diabetic patients, and the use of antihypertensive therapy was more common among those with skin tags. Despite these findings, lipid profiles did not differ significantly between the groups. The research suggests that skin tags may be linked to an adverse cardiovascular risk profile in individuals with morbid obesity, indicating the need for further investigation into the relationship between skin tags, insulin sensitivity, and cardiovascular risk. However, the study's limitations include its small, convenience sample size and its focus on a specific hospital-based bariatric service population, without directly measuring insulin resistance.