Background: Limited data suggest that hydroxychloroquine may affect risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with lupus erythematosus (LE).Objective: To investigate whether hydroxychloroquine treatment is associated with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, or cardiovascular-associated death) in patients with cutaneous LE (CLE) or systemic LE (SLE).Methods: Based on the Danish nationwide registers, an observational cohort study was conducted including patients with first-time diagnosis of CLE or SLE (between 1997 and. Cox regression models calculating the hazard ratio (HR) analyzing the risk of MACE were performed comparing time on and off hydroxychloroquine (including never users). The models were adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic status, concomitant treatment, and cardiovascular risk factors.Results: Among 4587 patients with LE, 51% (n = 2343) were treated with hydroxychloroquine during the study period. An inverse association between use of hydroxychloroquine and MACE risk was observed among patients with SLE (adjusted HR, 0.65; 95% confidence interval, 0.46-0.90) and patients with CLE (adjusted HR, 0.71; 95% confidence interval, 0.42-1.19). Consistent results were found in sensitivity analyses including a case-time control design.Limitations: No information on disease activity/severity was available. Conclusion:Our findings indicate an opportunity to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with LE through use of hydroxychloroquine.

Objectives To investigate if patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have an increased risk of cancer compared with the general population, and furthermore to identify specific cancer types associated with increased risk. Methods This is an observational cohort study of 5310 patients with CLE or SLE identified in the Danish National Patient Register from 1 January 1995 to 31 December 2014. The cohort was followed up for cancer by linkage to the Danish Cancer Registry. Based on the age, sex, and calendar specific cancer rates of the general population of Denmark, standardised incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated. Results The patients with CLE or SLE were followed for 40.724 person-years, each group’s average duration of follow-up being 6.9 and 8.1 years. The SIR for overall cancer (except non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC)) was increased in patients with CLE 1.35 (95%CI 1.15 to 1.58) and patients with SLE 1.45 (95%CI 1.30 to 1.62). Both groups had high risks of hematological – including a 3–4-fold increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma –, pancreatic, and lung cancers. Several cancers associated with oncogenic viruses as liver and tongue/mouth/pharynx were increased in the SLE group, while the risk of ovarian cancer was increased 2–4-fold only in the CLE group. Conclusion The overall risk of cancer was significantly increased in both patients with CLE and SLE. SIRs for hematological, pancreatic and lung cancers were elevated in both groups. Extra awareness of cancer in patients with SLE and patients with CLE should be considered.

Background Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent chronically relapsing inflammatory skin disease of childhood. However, little is known about self‐reported trigger factors, impact on daily life and factors associated with AD severity. Methods A nationwide questionnaire study of children in Denmark with hospital‐diagnosed AD in the time period 2014–2018. The web‐based questionnaire was completed by the legal parents. AD severity was assessed using Patient‐Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) tool. Results Of 3438 invited parents, 1343 (39%) completed the questionnaire. Factors associated with severe AD were onset during the first 6 months of life, onset of AD on multiple body regions, a history of hay fever, female sex and low maternal educational level. Staying home from daycare or school due to AD, concentration problems and sleep disturbances in the child were more frequently reported by parents to children with severe AD. Overall, 90% reported at least one AD trigger factor, and all were more frequently reported in children with severe AD. The three most commonly reported trigger factors were cold weather (51.9%), chlorinated water (35.7%) and warm weather (30.2%). Conclusions We identified factors associated with severe AD in childhood, the impact on daily life, as well as the most common self‐reported triggers of AD. These findings may be valuable in clinical practice to inform about prognosis and educate families about trigger avoidance.

Background Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent relapsing inflammatory skin disease. There is currently little knowledge about healthcare utilization and medication use along with parental corticosteroid phobia in relation to severity of pediatric AD. Objectives To study the association between parental‐reported healthcare utilization, medication use, and topical corticosteroid phobia and pediatric AD severity. Methods The study population included all children in Denmark with a diagnostic code of AD (ICD‐10 code, group L20) given at a hospital department of dermatology between 2014 and 2018. A questionnaire containing 158 response items was sent to the legal parents. We surveyed disease severity, AD treatment, corticosteroid phobia, and healthcare use along with other variables. Disease severity was assessed using the Patient‐Oriented Eczema Measure tool, and corticosteroid phobia was assessed using the Topical Corticosteroid Phobia (TOPICOP) score. Results In total, 1343 (39%) parents completed the questionnaire and 95.3% were completed by the biological mother. Children's mean age was 8.9 ± 4.5 years, and 52.8% were boys. Severe AD was associated with a higher number of healthcare visits to GPs, private dermatologists, and hospital departments. Mean global TOPICOP score was 38.27 ± 19.9%. There was a significant inverse linear trend between global TOPICOP score and parental educational level (Ptrend < .0005). Conclusions The significant association between high global TOPICOP score and low parental educational level, resulting in delayed treatment of AD flares, indicates that improved family education ultimately may reduce healthcare expenses and burden of disease.

IMPORTANCEIt has been estimated that up to 30% of all subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) cases and up to 15% of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) cases are drug induced. Based on numerous case reports and several epidemiologic studies, more than 100 drugs from more than 10 drug classes are suspected to cause drug-induced lupus erythematosus.OBJECTIVE To examine the association between drug use and a subsequent diagnosis of CLE or SLE based on a systematic screening process of the drugs in the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification system in a nationwide setting. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTSA matched case-control study was conducted using all incident cases of CLE and SLE registered in the Danish National Patient Register between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2017. Patients with CLE and patients with SLE were matched (1:10) on age and sex, with individuals from the general population serving as controls.EXPOSURES To select which drugs to examine for an association with CLE or SLE, a screening process of all drugs was performed, including drugs filled at pharmacies and drugs administered in hospitals. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for the association between exposures to certain drugs and the subsequent diagnosis of CLE or SLE. RESULTS In all, 3148 patients with CLE (n = 1298; 1022 women [78.7%]; median age at diagnosis, 50.5 years [interquartile range, 39.4-62.2 years]) or SLE (n = 1850; 1537 women [83.1%]; median age at diagnosis, 45.0 years [interquartile range, 33.6-56.4 years]) and 31 480 controls (25 590 women [81.3%]; median age, 47.5 years [interquartile range, 35.9-59.5 years]) were found. Many significant associations between drug use and a subsequent diagnosis of CLE and SLE were observed. Many associations were likely due to protopathic bias. However, new plausible causal associations were observed between CLE or SLE and some drugs, including fexofenadine hydrochloride

BackgroundAn overlap between the skin disease rosacea and the headache disease migraine has been established; however, the magnitude of this overlap and the distribution between subtypes/phenotypes remains unclear.ObjectiveThe aim was to determine the magnitude of the overlap between rosacea and migraine, and to determine which subtypes/phenotypes were present in patients with concomitant rosacea and migraine.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 604 patients with a diagnosis of either rosacea or migraine were phenotyped through a face-to-face interview with clinical examination, to determine prevalence and phenotype of rosacea, and prevalence and subtype of migraine.ResultsWe found a prevalence of migraine of 54% in patients with rosacea, and a prevalence of rosacea of 65% in patients with migraine. Concomitant migraine was significantly associated with the rosacea features flushing (odds ratio = 2.6, 95% confidence interval = 1.4–4.7, p = 0.002), ocular symptoms (odds ratio = 2.4, 95% confidence interval = 1.5–3.9, p &lt; 0.001), and burning (odds ratio = 2.1, 95% confidence interval = 1.3–3.4, p = 0.002), whereas papules/pustules were inversely related with concomitant migraine (odds ratio = 0.5, 95% confidence interval = 0.3–0.8, p = 0.006). No association was found between concomitant migraine and centrofacial erythema, rhinophyma, telangiectasia, edema, or dryness. Concomitant rosacea was not associated with any specific migraine subtype in patients with migraine.ConclusionThis study highlights a substantial overlap between rosacea and migraine, particularly in patients with certain rosacea features. Individuals with rosacea should be asked about concomitant migraine, and comorbidities should be considered when choosing between treatments.

PurposeMigraine has consistently been connected with rosacea. Commonalities in epidemiology, trigger factors and associated neuropeptides support shared aetiology and pathophysiological pathways, though underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We established two cohorts of patients diagnosed with either migraine and/or rosacea. All patients were phenotyped in regard to migraine and rosacea. In this article, we describe the baseline parameters of the cohorts. In the future, we expect that these cohorts will help uncover potential disease overlaps and allow for prolonged follow-up through national Danish health registers.ParticipantsCOpenhagen ROsacea COhort (COROCO) and COpenhagen MIgraine COhort (COMICO) are prospective cohorts based in the Capital region of Denmark. Participants for COROCO were recruited primarily through two tertiary dermatology clinics in Copenhagen, Denmark and patients for COMICO were recruited through a tertiary neurology clinic in Copenhagen, Denmark.Findings to dateCOROCO: 67.7% women (median age 51 years (interquartile range (IQR) 43.0–61.0)). Family history of migraine: 44.3%. Family history of rosacea: 45%. There were 13% who currently smoked, and 36.6% were former smokers. Regular intake of alcohol was present in 79.3% (median 4 items/week (IQR 1.0–9.0)). Median body mass index (BMI): 25.7 (IQR 23.1–29.0). Median Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI): 2 (IQR 1–5).COMICO: 88.5% women (median age 41 years (IQR 29.5–51.0)). Family history of migraine: 73.4%. Family history of rosacea: 18.4%. There were 17.1% who currently smoked, and 26.0% former smokers. Regular intake of alcohol was present in 62.2% (median intake: 2 item/week (IQR 1.0–3.0)). Median BMI was 24.6 (IQR 21.5–28.2). Median DLQI was 1 (IQR 0–2).Future plansCOROCO and COMICO serve as strong data sources that will be used for future studies on rosacea and migraine with focus on risk factors, occurrence, treatment, natural history, complications, comorbidities and prognosis.Trial registration numberClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT03872050).

Linked Article: Polesie et al. Br J Dermatol 2020; 183:684–691.