Prevalence of Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Dermatology
• Public Health

Background:

• Atopic dermatitis (AD) significantly impacts quality of life and incurs substantial healthcare costs.
• Understanding the global burden of AD is crucial for effective resource allocation and intervention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the worldwide point prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD).
• To determine the global proportion of severe AD cases.
• To explore heterogeneity in prevalence and severity estimates.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of MEDLINE, Embase, and Global Index Medicus (2012-2022).
• Inclusion of 310 primary prevalence studies encompassing over 25.5 million individuals.
• Random-effects meta-analyses and subgroup analyses to pool and evaluate prevalence data.

Main Results:

• Global point prevalence of AD was 11.1% in children/adolescents and 6.3% in adults (moderate certainty).
• Proportion of severe AD cases ranged from 1.9% to 7.2% in younger populations and 2.8% to 15.6% in adults.
• Prevalence estimates remained consistent across studies with low risk of bias.

Conclusions:

• This comprehensive analysis provides robust estimates of global AD prevalence and severity.
• Findings can inform public health policies, guide research priorities, and support clinical decision-making for AD management.