Association between adult atopic dermatitis, cardiovascular disease, and increased heart attacks in three population-based studies

Abstract

Background: Adults with eczema are more likely to smoke cigarettes, consume alcohol, and have sedentary lifestyle. We sought to determine whether adult eczema is associated with increased cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease.

Methods: Data from the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (n = 4970) and 2010 (n = 27 157) and 2012 (n = 34 525) National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). History of coronary artery disease (CAD), angina, heart attack, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease (PVD) were determined.

Results: In NHANES, flexural eczema in the past year was associated with significantly higher odds of CAD (P ≤ 0.04), heart attack (P ≤ 0.01), and congestive heart failure (P ≤ 0.02), but not with stroke (P ≥ 0.37), in survey-weighted multivariate logistic regression models that controlled for socio-demographics, comorbid asthma, and hay fever. Similarly, in NHIS 2010 and 2012, 1-year history of eczema was associated with significantly higher odds of CAD (P ≤ 0.02), angina (P ≤ 0.02), heart attack (P ≤ 0.047), other heart disease (P < 0.0001), stroke (P ≤ 0.02), and PVD (<0.0001) in multivariate models.

Conclusions: Adults with atopic dermatitis may have increased cardiovascular disease, heart attack, and stroke.

Keywords: atopic dermatitis; congestive heart failure; coronary artery disease; flexural eczema; myocardial infarction.