Trends in eczema prevalence in children and adolescents: A Global Asthma Network Phase I Study. Issue 3 (8th February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Langan, Sinéad Máire; Mulick, Amy R.; Rutter, Charlotte E.; Silverwood, Richard J.; Asher, Innes; García‐Marcos, Luis; Ellwood, Eamon; Bissell, Karen; Chiang, Chen‐Yuan; Sony, Asma El; Ellwood, Philippa; Marks, Guy B.; Mortimer, Kevin; Martínez‐Torres, A. Elena; Morales, Eva; Perez‐Fernandez, Virginia; Robertson, Steven; Williams, Hywel C.; Strachan, David P.; Pearce, Neil
• Other Names: Bissell Karen investigator.; Chiang Chen Yuan investigator.; Marks investigator.; Mortimer Kevin investigator.; Masekela R investigator.; Perez‐Fernández Virginia investigator.; Martinez‐Torres A Elena investigator.; Robertson Steven investigator.; Rutter Charlotte E investigator.; Silverwood Richard J investigator.; Mallol Javier investigator.; Soto‐Martinez Manual E investigator.; Cabrera Aguilar Angelita investigator.; Douros Konstantinos investigator.; Mohammed Samira investigator.; Singh Menu investigator.; Singh Virendra investigator.; Sukumaran Thevaruparambil Unny investigator.; Awasthi Shally investigator.; Kabra Sushil Kumar investigator.; Salvi Sundeep investigator.; Mérida‐Palacio Juan Valente investigator.; González‐Díaz Sandra Nora investigator.; Navarrete‐Rodriguez Elsy Maureen investigator.; Sánchez José Félix investigator.; Falade Adegoke G. investigator.; Zar Heather J investigator.; López‐Silvarrey Varela Angel investigator.; González Díaz Carlos investigator.; Nour Madge investigator.; Dib Gazel investigator.; Mohammad Yousser investigator.; Huang Jing‐Long investigator.; Chinratanapisit Sasawan investigator.; Soto‐Quirós Manuel E investigator.; El‐Sony Asma investigator.; Vichyanond Patik investigator.; Aguilar Pedro investigator.; Barba Sergio investigator.; Kumar Lata investigator.; Sharma SK investigator.; Hanumante Neeta Milind investigator.; García‐Almaráz Roberto investigator.; Merida‐Palacio Juan Valente investigator.; Del‐Río‐Navarro Blanca Estela investigator.; Linares‐Zapién Francisco Javier investigator.; Onadeko Babatunde O investigator.; Musa Omer Abdel Aziz investigator.; Aguirre Viviana investigator.; Baeza‐Bacab Manuel investigator.; Mohammad Samira investigator.; Cortéz Eliana investigator.; Gratziou Cristina H investigator.; Chopra Kamlesh investigator.; Nelson Hugo investigator.; Rubio Alfonso Delgado investigator.; Hsieh Kue‐Hsiung investigator.; Shah Jayant investigator.;
• Is Part Of: Clinical & experimental allergy. Volume 53:Issue 3(2023)
• Page Start: 337
• Page End: 352
• Publication Date: 2023-02-08
• Subjects: atopic dermatitis -- eczema -- flexural rash -- global estimates -- prevalence; Allergy -- Periodicals; Immunology -- Periodicals; 616.97
• DOI: 10.1111/cea.14276
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-7894

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is a major global public health issue with high prevalence and morbidity. Our goal was to evaluate eczema prevalence over time, using standardized methodology. Methods: The Global Asthma Network (GAN) Phase I study is an international collaborative study arising from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC). Using surveys, we assessed eczema prevalence, severity, and lifetime prevalence, in global centres participating in GAN Phase I (2015–2020) and one/ both of ISAAC Phase I (1993–1995) and Phase III (2001–2003). We fitted linear mixed models to estimate 10‐yearly prevalence trends, by age group, income, and region. Results: We analysed GAN Phase I data from 27 centres in 14 countries involving 74, 361 adolescents aged 13–14 and 47, 907 children aged 6–7 (response rate 90%, 79%). A median of 6% of children and adolescents had symptoms of current eczema, with 1.1% and 0.6% in adolescents and children, respectively, reporting symptoms of severe eczema. Over 27 years, after adjusting for world region and income, we estimated small overall 10‐year increases in current eczema prevalence (adolescents: 0.98%, 95% CI 0.04%–1.92%; children: 1.21%, 95% CI 0.18%–2.24%), and severe eczema (adolescents: 0.26%, 95% CI 0.06%–0.46%; children: 0.23%, 95% CI 0.02%–0.45%) with larger increases in lifetime prevalence (adolescents: 2.71%, 95% CI 1.10%–4.32%; children: 3.91%, 95% CI 2.07%–5.75%). There was substantial heterogeneity in 10‐year change between centres (standard deviations 2.40%, 0.58%, and 3.04%), and strong evidence that some of this heterogeneity was explained by region and income level, with increases in some outcomes in high‐income children and middle‐income adolescents. Conclusions: There is substantial variation in changes in eczema prevalence over time by income and region. Understanding reasons for increases in some regions and decreases in others will help inform prevention strategies. Abstract : Using surveys we assessed eczema prevalence, severity, and lifetime prevalence, in global centres participating in GAN Phase I (2015–2020) and one/ both ISAAC Phase I (1993–1995) and Phase III (2001–2003), using standardized methods, allowing assessment of prevalence over three decades. Eczema burden is substantial‐median 6% children/adolescents have symptoms of current eczema. Globally, current eczema prevalence increased 0.98%/decade in adolescents, and 1.21%/decade in children. There is substantial variation in changes in eczema prevalence by national per capita income and region.