During his session, “Epidemiology and Comorbidities of Atopic Dermatitis,” at the 2023 AAD Annual Meeting, Aaron Mark Drucker, MD, FAAD, presented on the prevalence and burden of atopic dermatitis (AD), and applying knowledge in relevant comorbidities of AD to clinical practice. 

Dr Drucker started with prevalence and impact of AD. In the United States, AD is prevalent in 11% children and 7% of adults. In childhood, most people will have mild to moderate AD. In adults, “most people do not have severe disease, but the proportion of mild, moderate, and severe disease is increased.”

“What do you tell parents when they ask whether their child will outgrow their AD?” asked Dr Drucker. Following a study and the predictors of persistence and severity, he answered with “a high proportion likely persists than previously thought and important predictors are personal history or family history of other atopic conditions, and marginalized communities.”

Next, Dr Drucker asked can AD begin in adulthood? “Since the diagnostic criteria are at the early age of onset, it is hard to escape the notion that AD starts from childhood, but the data say otherwise,” he said. “There’s a substantial proportion, whether there’s 10% or 15% of people who record their AD in adulthood.”

Dr Drucker moved on to comorbidities associated with AD. He emphasized mental health, cardiovascular diseases, and autoimmune/inflammatory diseases associated with AD. “I think it’s very well established now that having AD is associated with an increased risk of anxiety and depression,” he noted. Mental health is directly proportional to AD. The higher the severity of AD, the higher the risk of depression. 

Regarding the cardiovascular disease associated with AD, there is no evidence that suggests treating AD impacts cardiovascular risks. “The absolute attributable risk for cardiovascular disease associated with AD is low. Age-appropriate screening and preventive measures by primary care practitioners is sufficient.” 

Dr Drucker summarized the session and mentioned that AD is common, even in adults. “Treating AD can mitigate some of its associated mental health sequalae and comorbidities of AD can contribute to therapeutic decision-making,” he concluded. 

Reference
Drucker AM. Epidemiology and comorbidities of atopic dermatitis. Presented at: AAD Annual Meeting; March 17–21, 2023; New Orleans, LA.