Atopic dermatitis and the metabolic syndrome: a cross‐sectional study of 116 816 patients

• Published in: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology 2019-09, Vol.33 (9), p.1762-1767
• Main Authors: Shalom, G., Dreiher, J., Kridin, K., Horev, A., Khoury, R., Battat, E., Freud, T., Comaneshter, D., Cohen, A.D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dermatitis, Atopic - epidemiology; Female; Humans; Israel - epidemiology; Male; Metabolic Syndrome - epidemiology; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Severity of Illness Index
• ISSN: 0926-9959; 1468-3083
• DOI: 10.1111/jdv.15642

Background Data regarding the association between atopic dermatitis (AD) and the metabolic syndrome are controversial. Objective To evaluate the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its components in a large group of patients with AD compared to a matched reference group. Methods A cross‐sectional study of AD patients diagnosed by a dermatologist between 1998 and 2016, and a matched comparison group was performed. We analysed the association between AD and metabolic syndrome, its components and possible complications for the entire study population, adults (age > 18) and adults with moderate‐to‐severe AD. Results The study included 116 816 patients with AD and 116 812 comparison enrollees. AD in the entire group of patients and in the adult patients was associated with a higher prevalence of dyslipidaemia and a lower prevalence of diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Moderate and severe AD were associated, respectively, with higher prevalence rates of the metabolic syndrome (17.0% vs. 9.4%), its components (obesity: 22.2% vs. 18.6%; diabetes: 15.9% vs. 9.2%; hypertension 27.9% vs. 15.3%; dyslipidaemia 47.1% vs. 28.5%, all P values