title: Self-reported lifetime prevalence of atopic dermatitis and co-morbidity with asthma and eczema in adulthood: a population-based cross-sectional survey.
abstract: Atopic dermatitis and its co-morbidity with asthma and allergy is well described in younger age groups. However, population-based studies on adults with atopic dermatitis in childhood are sparse. The aims of this study were to determine: (i) the prevalence of self-reported childhood atopic dermatitis in the population; and (ii) its association with present self-reported hand eczema, eczema, allergy, urticaria and asthma. A questionnaire was sent to a cross-sectional random sample of the Swedish population (n=7,985), age range 18-84 years (response rate 61.1%). The questionnaire included the question "Have you had childhood eczema?" and questions on 5 other medical problems (hand eczema, other eczema, asthma, urticaria and allergy). Persons reporting eczema in childhood reported increased odds ratios (OR) for hand eczema (4.01), other eczema (3.88), urticaria (2.50), allergy (2.98), and asthma (2.06) as adults. The combination of eczema, allergy and asthma had an OR of 14.10 (95% confidence interval 8.44-23.54). Adults in the age range 18-84 years reporting childhood atopic dermatitis still have high co-morbidity with eczema, asthma, urticaria and allergy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bingefors
authors.forename: Åke
authors.initials: Å
authors.lastname: Svensson
authors.forename: Dag
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Isacson
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lindberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004485:Eczema / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014581:Urticaria / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult