The global burden of atopic dermatitis: lessons from the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990–2017*

Abstract

Summary Background The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study provides an annually updated resource to study disease‐related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Objectives Here we present the burden estimates for atopic dermatitis (AD), including data from inception of the GBD project in 1990 until 2017. Methods Data on the burden of AD were obtained from the GBD Study. Results Atopic dermatitis (AD) ranks 15th among all nonfatal diseases and has the highest disease burden among skin diseases as measured by disability‐adjusted life‐years (DALYs). Overall, the global DALY rate for AD in 1990 was 121 [95% uncertainty interval (UI) 65·4–201] and remained similar in 2017 at 123 (95% UI 66·8–205). The three countries with the highest DALY rates of AD were Sweden (327, 95% UI 178–547), the UK (284, 95% UI 155–478) and Iceland (277, 95% UI 149–465), whereas Uzbekistan (85·1, 95% UI 45·2–144), Armenia (85·1, 95% UI 45·8–143) and Tajikistan (85·1, 95% UI 46·1–143) ranked lowest. Conclusions The global prevalence rate of AD has remained stable from 1990 to 2017. However, the distribution of AD by age groups shows a bimodal curve with the highest peak in early childhood, decreasing in prevalence among young adults, and a second peak in middle‐aged and older populations. We also found a moderate positive correlation between a country’s gross domestic product and disease burden. GBD data confirm the substantial worldwide burden of AD, which has remained stable since 1990 but shows significant geographical variation. Lifestyle factors, partially linked to affluence, are likely important disease drivers. However, the GBD methodology needs to be developed further to incorporate environmental risk factors, such as ultraviolet exposure, to understand better the geographical and age‐related variations in disease burden.

Comparison of Gut Microbiota Between Infants with Atopic Dermatitis and Healthy Controls in Guangzhou, China

“…Atopic dermatitis (AD) is characterized by recurrent, eczematous lesions and intense itching, with a prevalence of 10% in adults and 20% in children in developed countries, 1 and the highest disease burden among skin diseases. 2 The pathogenesis of AD is affected by barrier dysfunction and immune dysregulation; microbial dysbiosis, which affects the development of AD, has therefore gained more attention. 3 However, reports regarding the influence of changes in intestinal microbiota on the development and progression of AD are inconsistent.…”

Neuritin, unmasked as a checkpoint for the pathogenesis of allergy and autoimmunity

“…Presentations of patients with severe allergic reaction to food, medications or insects, aka anaphylaxis, to our emergency departments have doubled in the last ten years. The worldwide prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) is also on the rise, ranging from 0.2% to 20%, with the highest rates seen in Andean Latin American children 13 . The onset of AD occurs predominantly in childhood, with nearly 20% of children with AD developing another allergic disease such as food allergy, asthma or allergic rhinitis 14 .…”

“…The worldwide prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) is also on the rise, ranging from 0.2% to 20%, with the highest rates seen in Andean Latin American children. 13 The onset of AD occurs predominantly in childhood, with nearly 20% of children with AD developing another allergic disease such as food allergy, asthma or allergic rhinitis. 14 There is a significant association The neuritin protein accumulates in the cytoplasm and also becomes expressed on the plasma membrane anchored by a short GPI anchor region.…”

Melatonin as an Antioxidant and Immunomodulator in Atopic Dermatitis–A New Look on an Old Story–A Review

“…Atopic dermatitis (AD, commonly referred to as eczema) is considered to be the most frequent inflammatory skin disease, with global prevalence of 15 to 20% among children and up to 10% in adults [1][2][3]. The total burden of this dermatosis (i.e., disability adjusted life-years) is the largest of all skin diseases [4]. Both the incidence and the severity of AD are influenced by the environmental factors like air pollutants or animal-derived allergens [5].…”