Wan J, et al. – This study investigated the impact of the age of atopic dermatitis onset on the risk for asthma and seasonal allergies. The timing of atopic dermatitis onset could partly elucidate the variation in the atopic march. The yielded data could improve future risk stratification of patients for treatment.

Methods

• This cohort study utilized the Pediatric Eczema Elective Registry.
• It was an observational cohort of individuals with pediatric onset atopic dermatitis.

Results

• 3966 children were recruited and 73% reported atopic dermatitis onset before age 2 years.
• At baseline, enrollees with atopic dermatitis onset at ages 3 to 7 or 8 to 17 years displayed lower rates of seasonal allergies and asthma than those with onset before age 2.
• During follow-up, the adjusted relative risks for incident seasonal allergies were 0.82 (95% confidence interval, 0.72-0.91) and 0.64 (95% CI confidence interval, 0.47-0.83) in the 3- to 7- and 8- to 17-years-old at onset groups compared with the age 2 years or younger at onset group.
• The adjusted risk for incident asthma did not appear to be prominently different between the older onset groups and the earliest onset group.