Real-world comorbidities of atopic dermatitis in the US adult ambulatory population

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a pruritic, inflammatory skin disease associated with various comorbidities. However, comprehensive analyses of real-world comorbidities in adult patients with AD are limited. Objective: To characterize the real-world comorbidities associated with adult AD in an ambulatory population. Methods: We queried the MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters database from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed to compare comorbidities in adult patients with AD versus age- and sex-matched controls. Results: A total of 39,779 patients with AD and 353,743 controls were identified. Increased odds of psychiatric conditions, including anxiety (odds ratio [OR] 1.44) and mood disorders (OR 1.31), were observed in patients with AD. Patients with AD had higher likelihoods of autoimmune diseases, including vitiligo (OR 4.44) and alopecia areata (OR 6.01). Adult AD was also associated with infections, including impetigo (OR 9.72), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (OR 3.92), and cellulitis (OR 2.52). Patients with AD were more likely to have systemic conditions, including lymphoid/hematopoietic malignancy (OR 1.91), atherosclerosis (OR 1.69), and metabolic syndrome (OR 1.47). For all the above, P < .001. Limitations: Retrospective analysis of health care claims data. Conclusion: Adult AD is associated with various psychiatric and systemic comorbidities, emphasizing the systemic nature of AD and the need for the collaborative management of these patients.