Evidence shows the co-occurrence of common chronic diseases in individuals with atopic dermatitis (AD). Previous studies have shown associations of AD with rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, migraine, cardiovascular, metabolic disorders, disorders of the oral cavity, etc.

A recent study investigated the relationships between AD and other common chronic health conditions in adults by randomly selecting a population sample of 78,004 adults in Sweden. The participants were given questionnaires that included measures of self-reported physical and mental health; and the associations of AD with common chronic health conditions and psychological well-being were analyzed.

The results were as follows:

• Fourteen percent of the study population self-reported AD.
• A positive association between AD and chronic health disorders was noted, including conditions of the oral cavity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, mild recurrent gastrointestinal symptoms, high blood pressure, obesity, mild joint pain, mild headache or migraine, caries, bleeding gums, periodontitis, sensitive teeth and dry mouth.
• Attenuation in the magnitude of the associations between AD and the study outcomes was seen after adjusting for asthma and depression.
• AD also showed an association with poorer general psychological well-being.

Thus, adults with AD may be at increased risk of chronic disorders and decreased psychological well-being. Physicians should remember that individuals with severe AD along with comorbid asthma or depression may be specifically vulnerable.

Source: Smirnova J, Montgomery S, Lindberg M, et al. Associations of self-reported atopic dermatitis with comorbid conditions in adults: a population-based cross-sectional study. BMC Dermatol. 2020;20(1):23.