1 Sept 2023 • This study aimed to examine the association between atopic dermatitis (AD) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), specifically ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), in both children and adults. The study included a pediatric cohort of 1,809,029 controls matched with 409,431 children with AD (93.2% mild, 5.5% moderate, and 1.3% severe). An adult cohort of 2,678,888 controls was matched with 625,083 adults with AD (65.7% mild, 31.4% moderate, and 2.9% severe). Children with AD exhibited a 44% increased risk of IBD and a 74% increased risk of CD. However, their risk of UC did not significantly increase except for those with severe AD. Adults with AD had a 34% increased risk of IBD, a 36% increased risk of CD, and a 32% increased risk of UC. The risk of IBD increased with worsening AD severity. These findings emphasize that both children and adults with AD face an elevated risk of IBD, and the risk varies based on age, severity of AD, and the specific subtype of IBD. Clinicians should consider these risks, particularly when choosing systemic treatments for AD, especially in patients with concurrent gastrointestinal symptoms. In conclusion, this study sheds new light on the relationship between AD and IBD, revealing distinct risk patterns based on age, AD severity, and IBD subtype.

Source: JAMA | Read full story