The prevalence of atopic triad in children with physician-confirmed atopic dermatitis

Kapoor, Roger MD, MBA
Menon, Chandrakala PhD
Hoffstad, Ole MA
Bilker, Warren PhD
Leclerc, Patricia MA
Margolis, David J. MD, PhD

From the George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington^a; Departments of Biostatistics and Epidemiology,^b Psychiatry,^c and Dermatology,^d University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; and Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation, East Hanover.^e

Reprint requests: David J. Margolis, MD, PhD, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 815 Blockley Hall, 423 Guardian Dr, Philadelphia PA 19104. E-mail: [email protected]

Supported by an unrestricted grant from Novartis to Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania to conduct the design, data management, and analysis aspects of the PEER study.

Disclosure: Ms Leclerc is an employee of Novartis. Dr Margolis has a consulting relationship with Astellas Pharmaceuticals but not with Novartis. Drs Kapoor, Menon, and Bilker, and Mr Hoffstad, have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Accepted for publication June 17, 2007.

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 58(1):p 68-73, January 2008.

Background

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is often associated with comorbidities such as allergic rhinitis and asthma.

Objective

We sought to describe the frequency of these comorbidities in children with AD.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study of the first 2270 children with physician-confirmed AD enrolled in a large postmarketing cohort. All were queried for information on comorbidities using a questionnaire from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood.

Results

In all, 71.3% reported at least one additional form of atopy (symptoms of asthma or allergic rhinitis). A total of 33.3% reported only symptoms of asthma or allergic rhinitis whereas 38.0% reported symptoms of asthma and allergic rhinitis. By age 3 years, nearly 66% reported at least one additional form of atopy. A statistically significant trend toward poorer disease control was observed for those with additional atopic illnesses (P < .001).

Limitations

This is a cross-sectional study.

Conclusion

Individuals with AD exhibit a predisposition to additional atopic illnesses by age 3 years and in turn the presence of these illnesses correlates with poor disease control.