Relationship of atopic dermatitis with stroke and myocardial infarction: A meta-analysis

Lots of previous reports have suggested a potential association of atopic dermatitis (AD) with stroke and myocardial infarction (MI). However, the result is still controversial, Consequently, we conducted this meta-analysis to estimate the relationship of AD with Stroke and MI.

PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to June 2018. Stroke and MI were considered as a composite endpoint. We calculated pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup and sensitivity analysis were performed to assess the potential sources of heterogeneity of the pooled estimation.

A total of 12 articles with 15 studies involving 3,701,199 participants were included in this meta-analysis. Of these, 14 studies on stroke and 12 on MI. Pooled analysis showed participants with AD experienced a significant increased risk of stroke (combined HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.08-1.22; P = .000) and MI (combined HR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.02-1.24; P = .014), compared with participants without AD. The risk of stroke and MI was significant both in male subjects (stroke: HR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.14-1.56; MI: HR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.31-3.08), but not in female subjects (HR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.77-1.35; MI: HR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.72-1.32). The results were more pronounced for ischemic stroke (HR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.13-1.19) in the stratified with stroke type. Stratifying by AD type, the risk of stroke was significant in severe AD (HR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.08-1.54) and moderate AD (HR: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.01-1.22) for MI.

AD is independently associated with an increased risk of stroke and MI, especially in male subjects and ischemic stroke and the risk is associated with the severity of AD.