The association between atopic dermatitis, cognitive function and school performance in children and young adults

Children with atopic dermatitis (AD) may have disturbed sleep, affected self-esteem and decreased quality of life, likely interfering with performance in school.

To examine the association between hospital-managed paediatric AD, school performance and cognitive function.

In this cross-sectional study we linked data from the Danish national registers and identified three populations between 2001 and 2019. Population 1 comprised children with graduation grades registered from lower secondary school, population 2 comprised adolescents with registration of an upper secondary graduation mean, and population 3 comprised male conscripts with registration of an IQ test score. AD was defined as a hospital diagnostic code (inpatient or outpatient) prior to the exam or conscription date, and was stratified according to severity, activity and atopic comorbidity. Outcomes included graduation mean from lower and upper secondary school, special educational assistance in primary and lower secondary school, and IQ at conscription.

In total, 770 611 (12 137 with AD), 394 193 (6261 with AD) and 366 182 (4539 with AD) children and adolescents were included in populations 1 (lower secondary graduation), 2 (upper secondary graduation) and 3 (conscription), respectively. In lower secondary school, children with severe AD had significantly lower overall, written and oral graduation grade means compared with children with mild AD: respectively, difference -0.29 [95% confidence interval (CI) -0.45 to -0.13, P < 0.001], difference -0.26 (95% CI -0.42 to -0.10, P = 0.0016) and difference -0.30 (95% CI -0.49 to -0.11, P = 0.0018). In upper secondary school, adolescents with AD performed similarly to their peers without AD. Young men with AD scored significantly lower IQ test means at conscription examination than male conscripts without AD: difference -0.60 (95% CI -0.87 to -0.32, P < 0.001).

AD, in particular when severe, is associated with lower school performance in childhood and IQ in young men, which can interfere with academic achievements in life. Optimization of treatment of children with AD and specific educational support to children with severe AD could be needed.