The prevalence of atopic dermatitis beyond childhood: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of longitudinal studies

Background There are sparse and conflicting data regarding the long‐term clinical course of atopic dermatitis (AD). Although often described as a childhood disease, newer population‐based estimates suggest the prevalence of pediatric and adult disease may be similar. Methods Our objective was to det...

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Published inAllergy (Copenhagen) Vol. 73; no. 3; pp. 696 - 704
Main Authors Abuabara, K., Yu, A. M., Okhovat, J.‐P., Allen, I. E., Langan, S. M.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Denmark Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2018
John Wiley and Sons Inc
Subjects
Adolescent
Adolescents
Adult
Age
Atopic dermatitis
atopic eczema
Child
Child, Preschool
Children
Dermatitis
Dermatitis, Atopic - epidemiology
Eczema
Evidence-based medicine
Female
Humans
Infant
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Meta-analysis
natural history
Original
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Pediatrics
Prevalence
Systematic review
Teenagers
Young Adult
eczema
prevalence
atopic dermatitis
atopic eczema
natural history
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Summary:Background There are sparse and conflicting data regarding the long‐term clinical course of atopic dermatitis (AD). Although often described as a childhood disease, newer population‐based estimates suggest the prevalence of pediatric and adult disease may be similar. Methods Our objective was to determine whether there is a decline in the prevalence of AD in population‐based cohorts of patients followed longitudinally beyond childhood. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis including studies assessing AD prevalence across 3 or more points in time. The primary outcome was weighted overall risk difference (percentage decrease in AD prevalence). Results Of 2080 references reviewed, 7 studies with 13 515 participants were included. Participants were assessed at 3‐6 time points, ranging from age 3 months to 26 years. The percentage decrease in prevalence after age 12 was 1%, which was not significantly different from zero (95% confidence interval −2%‐5%). Similar results were found with other age cut‐offs. Conclusion The prevalence of AD in longitudinal birth cohort studies is similar in childhood and adolescence/early adulthood.
Bibliography:Funding information
This study was supported in part by a training grant from the National Institutes of Health National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences UCSF‐CTSI Grant Number KL2 TR000143 (KA) and by a Wellcome senior research fellowship in clinical science to SML (205039/Z/16/Z). Funding/sponsor was involved in design and conduct of the study: no; collection, management, analysis and interpretation of data: no; preparation review or approval of the manuscript: no; decision to submit the manuscript for publication: no.
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Edited by: Stephan Weidinger
ISSN:0105-4538
1398-9995
DOI:10.1111/all.13320