Atopic Dermatitis in Israeli Adolescents from 1998 to 2013: Trends in Time and Association with Migraine.
BACKGROUND
Recent data have shown an increasing occurrence of atopic dermatitis (AD) in children and adolescents, as well as in adults. Most of the epidemiologic research on AD is limited to pediatric and youth populations and is based on self-reported questionnaires.


METHODS
A nationwide, population-based, cross-sectional retrospective study of adolescents with AD was performed to estimate its prevalence, trends, and association with demographic factors and comorbidities. The study included all Israeli teens going through medical evaluation as part of the assessment before being conscripted into the military from 1998 to 2013.


RESULTS
A total of 1,187,757 adolescents were included in the study population, with an overall prevalence of AD of 0.64% in boys and 0.9% in girls. Over the study period, the prevalence of AD steadily increased, especially in the mild disease group. A greater risk of AD was found in subjects with high predicted socioeconomic status (male: odds ratio [OR] 1.14 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.11, 1.16]; female: OR 1.08, [95% CI 1.05, 1.10]) and Israeli-born subjects (male: OR 1.34 [95% CI 1.21, 1.48]; female: OR 1.12 [95% CI 1.01, 1.23]). Allergic conditions such as asthma, conjunctivitis, and contact dermatitis were more prevalent in subjects with AD. There was a significantly higher prevalence of migraine in patients with AD (male: OR 1.35 [95% CI 1.18, 1.54]; female: OR 1.51 [95% CI 1.30, 1.74]).


CONCLUSIONS
This large cross-sectional study demonstrates the increasing prevalence of AD in adolescents and its relation to other allergic diseases and migraine. It is hoped that greater awareness of the distinctive epidemiologic characteristics of this population will lead to better recognition and management of the disease and its comorbidities.
Department of Dermatology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
Rony
R
Shreberk-Hassidim
Department of Plastic Surgery, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.|Israeli Defense Force Medical Corps, Ramat Gan, Israel.
Ayal
A
Hassidim
Department of Plastic Surgery, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
Yoav
Y
Gronovich
Israeli Defense Force Medical Corps, Ramat Gan, Israel.|Department of Dermatology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, Petah Tiqva, Israel.
Adam
A
Dalal
Department of Dermatology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
Vered
V
Molho-Pessach
Department of Dermatology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
Abraham
A
Zlotogorski
D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015897:Comorbidity; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors