Atopic Dermatitis Linked to Shorter Stature in Young Children, Finds Research
USA: Researchers have discovered in a new study that young children with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) tend to be shorter than their peers. They suggest that factors such as poor sleep quality and extended use of topical or systemic glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants could contribute to this impaired growth.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, was led by Dr. Amy Paller of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, along with her colleagues. The research highlights the potential influence of chronic skin inflammation on growth patterns in children under 12 years of age.
Atopic dermatitis is widely known to affect the quality of life in children, leading to discomfort, disturbed sleep, and emotional stress. However, its potential effects on physical growth, particularly in the context of long-term treatments such as corticosteroids or immunosuppressants, have not been fully understood. Given that childhood growth is a critical marker of general health, investigating this relationship is essential.
To address this knowledge gap, the researchers analysed data from 1,329 children enrolled in PEDISTAD (NCT03687359), an ongoing international, observational study focusing on patients younger than 12 years with moderate-to-severe AD. The analysis compared the children’s height, weight, and Body Mass Index (BMI) against the CDC Learning Management System reference population, offering insights into how these growth parameters align with healthy norms.
The study revealed several key findings:
- Only 38% of boys with AD were taller than the 50th percentile for height, although 50% exceeded the 50th percentile for weight.
- Among girls, 52% were taller than the 50th percentile for height, while 51% surpassed the 50th percentile for weight.
- The height disparity became even more evident in older children: in the 5- to 12-year age group, just 28% of boys and 47% of girls were taller than the 50th percentile for height.
- For BMI, 69% of boys and 71% of girls exceeded the 50th percentile.
- The overall average percentiles across all ages for boys were 46th for height, 51st for weight, and 58th for BMI.
- Among girls, these averages were 50th for height, 50th for weight, and 59th for BMI.
Based on these findings, the authors suggest that moderate-to-severe AD may hinder linear growth in children, possibly due to chronic inflammation, poor sleep, or long-term effects of corticosteroid and immunosuppressant therapy.
“The study emphasizes the importance of monitoring growth parameters in children with AD and considering these factors when selecting treatment strategies,” the authors noted. “Further research is needed to understand better the long-term effects of AD and its treatments on child development.”
Reference: https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(24)01056-9/fulltext
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