title: Atopic dermatitis is a serious health problem in Poland. Epidemiology studies based on the ECAP study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Global epidemiological studies have revealed considerable geographical differences in prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To present the epidemiology of AD, risk factors and co-occurrence of allergic diseases in the Polish population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present paper is a part of the Epidemiology of Allergic Disorders in Poland study. We studied 22 703 participants by ECRHS/ISAAC questionnaire; 18 617 (53.8% female, 24.2% 6-7 y.o., 25.4% 13-14 y.o., 50.4% 20-44 y.o.) completed questionnaires were accepted. Four thousand seven hundred and eighty-three participants (25.7%) have undergone a medical examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Atopic dermatitis was diagnosed in 3.91% (6-7 y.o. 5.34%, 13-14 y.o. 4.3%, adults 3.02%), more often in females (OR = 1.52; 95% CI: 0.56-0.77), in the cities (OR = 2.23; 95% CI: 1.61-3.09), in mothers (OR = 2.07; 95% CI: 1.72-2.48) and fathers (OR = 2.00; 95% CI: 1.61-2.49) with atopy, higher education (OR = 1.61; 95% CI: 1.11-2.32) and economic status (OR = 1.35; 95% CI: 1.04-1.74). The highest prevalence was found in Katowice (4.89%) and lowest in rural areas (1.9%). Coexisting AD and allergic rhinitis (AR) was found in 26.17%, AR and asthma in 9.09% and AD, AR and asthma in 14.6%. Atopic dermatitis was diagnosed by allergologists in 6.5% (6-7 y.o. 8.7%, 13-14 y.o. 9.0%, adults 3.6%). Most diagnoses were made in Poznan (16.76%) and smallest in rural area (3.67%). 78.8% of subjects were diagnosed with AD for the first time although they had earlier experienced its symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Atopic dermatitis prevalence in Poland is below the mean rate for Europe, but the risk factor profile is similar to other countries. Atopic dermatitis is more frequent in well-educated females with atopic parents and high socioeconomic status and who live in a city.
authors.affiliation: Department of the Prevention of Environmental Hazards and Allergology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. Head of Department: Prof. Bolesław Samoliński MD, PhD ; Department of Pediatric and Neonatology, Central Clinical Hospital of Ministry of Internal Affair, Warsaw, Poland. Head of Department: Adam J. Sybilski MD, PhD.
authors.forename: Adam J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Sybilski
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, Institute of Rheumatology, Warsaw, Poland. Head of Department: Filip Raciborski PhD.
authors.forename: Filip
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Raciborski
authors.affiliation: Department of the Prevention of Environmental Hazards and Allergology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. Head of Department: Prof. Bolesław Samoliński MD, PhD.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lipiec
authors.affiliation: Department of the Prevention of Environmental Hazards and Allergology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. Head of Department: Prof. Bolesław Samoliński MD, PhD.
authors.forename: Aneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tomaszewska
authors.affiliation: Department of the Prevention of Environmental Hazards and Allergology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. Head of Department: Prof. Bolesław Samoliński MD, PhD.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lusawa
authors.affiliation: Department of the Prevention of Environmental Hazards and Allergology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. Head of Department: Prof. Bolesław Samoliński MD, PhD.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Samel-Kowalik
authors.affiliation: Department of the Prevention of Environmental Hazards and Allergology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. Head of Department: Prof. Bolesław Samoliński MD, PhD.
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walkiewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of the Prevention of Environmental Hazards and Allergology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. Head of Department: Prof. Bolesław Samoliński MD, PhD.
authors.forename: Edyta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Krzych
authors.affiliation: Department of the Prevention of Environmental Hazards and Allergology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. Head of Department: Prof. Bolesław Samoliński MD, PhD.
authors.forename: Jarosław
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Komorowski
authors.affiliation: Department of the Prevention of Environmental Hazards and Allergology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. Head of Department: Prof. Bolesław Samoliński MD, PhD.
authors.forename: Bolesław
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Samoliński
keywords: atopic dermatitis; epidemiology; risk factors
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