Trends in the epidemiology and prescribing of medication for eczema in England.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of eczema, particularly in younger children, increased substantially over the second half of the 20th century. Analysis of primary healthcare data-sets offers the possibility to advance understanding about the changing epidemiology of eczema.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate recent trends in the recorded incidence, lifetime prevalence, prescribing and consulting behaviour of patients with eczema in England.


METHODS
QRESEARCH is one of the world's largest national aggregated health databases containing the records of over nine million patients. We extracted data on all patients with a recorded diagnosis of eczema and calculated annual age-sex standardized incidence and lifetime period prevalence rates for each year from 2001-2005. We also analysed the consulting behaviour of these patients when compared with the rest of the QRESEARCH database population. The number of eczema prescriptions issued to people in England was also estimated.


RESULTS
The age-sex standardized incidence of eczema was 9.58 per 1000 person-years in 2001 and increased to 13.58 per 1000 patients in 2005 (p<0.001). By 2005, eczema affected an estimated 5,773,700 (95% confidence intervals [CI] 5,754,100-5,793,400) individuals in England, who, on average, consulted a general practitioner 4.02 (95% CI 4.01-4.03) times a year. During the study period, the number of eczema related prescriptions increased by 56.6% (95% CI 56.6-56.7), so by 2005 an estimated 13,690,300 (95% CI 13,643,200-13,737,600) prescriptions were issued.


CONCLUSIONS
Recorded incidence and lifetime prevalence of eczema in England continue to increase. Similar increases have also been observed in the estimated number of eczema prescriptions issued to the English population.
Simpson
Colin R
CR
Allergy & Respiratory Research Group, Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, 20 West Richmond Street, Edinburgh EH8 9DX, UK.
Newton
John
J
Hippisley-Cox
Julia
J
Sheikh
Aziz
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004485:Eczema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult
D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D055553:Prescription Drugs