Global epidemiology of atopic dermatitis: a comprehensive systematic analysis and modelling study

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Epidemiology
• Global Health

Background:

• Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a leading cause of global skin disease burden.
• Previous studies have not provided comprehensive global and country-specific epidemiological estimates for AD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify global, regional, and country-specific epidemiological estimates of atopic dermatitis (AD).

Main Methods:

• Conducted a systematic literature search across four major electronic databases.
• Utilized a Bayesian hierarchical linear mixed model to calculate AD epidemiological estimates.
• Accounted for regional, national, diagnostic, and age-related heterogeneity in the analysis.

Main Results:

• Global prevalence of AD is estimated at 2.6%, affecting over 204 million people.
• Prevalence rates differ between adults (2.0%) and children (4.0%), with higher rates in females (2.8%) compared to males (2.4%).
• Significant variations in AD incidence were observed based on geographical location and participant age.

Conclusions:

• Epidemiological data for AD is missing in 41.5% of countries globally.
• The epidemiology of AD demonstrates substantial variation across different age groups and sexes.
• Geographical distribution of AD is unequal, underscoring the need for localized data and interventions.