BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown a higher prevalence of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors in patients with rosacea. However, it remains unknown whether rosacea represents an independent CV risk factor.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, CV death, major adverse CV events, and all-cause mortality, respectively.

METHODS: Between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 2012, a total of 4948 patients with rosacea were identified and matched with 23,823 control subjects. We used Poisson regression to calculate incidence rate ratios.

RESULTS: Adjusted incidence rate ratios were 0.75 (95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.57-1.00) for myocardial infarction, 1.08 (95% CI 0.86-1.35) for ischemic stroke, 1.01 (95% CI 0.61-1.67) for hemorrhagic stroke, 0.99 (95% CI 0.80-1.24) for CV death, 0.99 (95% CI 0.86-1.15) for major adverse CV events, and 0.95 (95% CI 0.85-1.06) for all-cause mortality.

LIMITATIONS: We were unable to distinguish between the different subtypes and severities of rosacea.

CONCLUSIONS: In this population-based study, rosacea was not associated with increased risk of adverse CV outcomes or death.