title: Epidemiology of atopic dermatitis in Poland according to the Epidemiology of Allergic Disorders in Poland (ECAP) study.
abstract: Epidemiological studies (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood [ISAAC], The European Community Respiratory Health Survey [ECRHS]) revealed considerable geographical differences in prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD). The aim of our study is to present the epidemiology and the risk factors of AD in a Polish population. A total of 18,617 subjects were selected. The sample included respondents in eight cities and one rural area each over 150,000 citizens. The study had two parts: (i) questionnaire survey conducted among all respondents (response rate, 64.4%); and (ii) allergological examination performed among 25.7% with skin prick test (SPT) with 15 aeroallergens. AD was identified in 3.91% of subjects, more often in females, living in the cities, with a mother and/or father with atopy and with a higher education and higher economic status. Comorbidities of AD were atopic rhinitis (AR) in 26.17% and AR and asthma in 14.6%. AD was diagnosed by allergologists in 311 subjects (6.5%). Positive SPT occurred in 66.9% persons with AD (house dust mite, 33.1%; grasses/crop plants, 30.6%). Of the patients, 9.5% with perennial versus 9.3% seasonal and 9.6% with polyvalent versus 9.0% monovalent sensitization had AD. AD prevalence in Poland is below the mean rate for Europe, but risk factor profile is similar to other countries. AD is more frequent in female, well-educated individuals, of high socioeconomic status, with atopic parents and who live in a city. Seasonal and monovalent atopy play a more essential role in subjects with AD compared with AR and asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of the Prevention of Environmental Hazards and Allergology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Pediatric and Neonatology, Central Clinical Hospital of Ministry of Internal Affair, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Adam J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Sybilski
authors.forename: Filip
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Raciborski
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lipiec
authors.forename: Aneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tomaszewska
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lusawa
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Samel-Kowalik
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walkiewicz
authors.forename: Edyta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Krzych-Fałta
authors.forename: Bolesław
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Samoliński
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: adults; atopic dermatitis; children; epidemiology; risk factors; sensitization