Interrelationships between Atopic Disorders in Children: A Meta-Analysis Based on ISAAC Questionnaires

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
• Epidemiology of Atopic Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Atopic disorders, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema, are common in childhood.
• Understanding the interrelationships between these conditions is crucial for effective management and research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema in children.
• To investigate the interrelationship and co-occurrence of these three atopic disorders.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of epidemiological data from major databases (Medline, Pubmed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, Cochrane).
• Analysis of data from 31 studies encompassing over 1.4 million children across 102 countries.
• Calculation of risk ratios to assess the likelihood of having multiple atopic disorders concurrently.

Main Results:

• Worldwide prevalence: Asthma (12.00%), Eczema (7.88%), Allergic Rhinitis (12.66%).
• The co-occurrence of all three diseases was 9.8 times higher than statistically expected.
• Risk ratios indicated a significantly elevated risk of having two atopic disorders when one is already present (Asthma: 5.41, Eczema: 4.24, Allergic Rhinitis: 6.20).

Conclusions:

• While few children have all three atopic disorders, their co-occurrence is significantly elevated, supporting a strong link.
• The findings suggest a potential distinct group of children with all three conditions, warranting separate consideration for treatment and prognosis.
• This meta-analysis highlights the interconnectedness of pediatric atopic diseases.