Mindful approaches: Association between atopic dermatitis and autism spectrum disorder and use of visual storyboards

This study compared the prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) in pediatric patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) versus controls and explored approaches to AD management in children with ASD. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the International Business Machines Explorys electronic medical records database in the United States from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2019. The primary outcome was International Classification of Diseases-10 diagnosis of AD with asthma or allergic rhinitis, a validated algorithm for identifying true AD cases. Logistic regression compared crude prevalence and assessed associations independent of potential confounders. AD prevalence was 5.0% among patients with ASD and 3.6% among controls (crude odds ratio (OR), 1.41; 95% CI, 1.23-1.61). After adjustment for demographics and healthcare visit frequency, the OR attenuated to 1.15 (95% CI, 1.01-1.32; P = .04) and further adjustment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder yielded an OR of 1.09 (95% CI, 0.95-1.25; P = .24). Visual aids and storyboards may support AD management in children with ASD. These findings highlight a modest increase in AD prevalence in this population and underscore the need for tailored strategies to improve dermatologic care in children with ASD.