Atopic dermatitis associated with increased CKD risk in Asian population: Study

A new study published in The Journal of Dermatology showed that atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Asian populations.

Adults with atopic dermatitis frequently have renal illness as a comorbidity. People who have atopic dermatitis are more likely to develop chronic kidney disease than people without the condition, according to case-control research that included about 100,000 participants. However, a cohort research with 335,827 people with diabetes mellitus did not reproduce this favorable connection.

The relationship between atopic dermatitis and chronic kidney disease is unclear due to conflicting and little data as well as potential limitations in observational research. Therefore, this study was conducted in order to find any direct connection between CKD and AD.

The association between AD and the risk of CKD was examined in a countrywide longitudinal research. From 2000 to 2008, a total of 15,179 people with AD (the exposed cohort) and 60,716 age and sex-matched people without AD (the comparison cohort) were found using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database.

From the time of cohort enrollment until the onset of chronic kidney disease, death, or the study's conclusion on December 31, 2013, whichever came first, follow-up time was documented. The relationship between AD and CKD risk was estimated using odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% CIs that were obtained from the logistic regression models.

After controlling for relevant confounders, individuals with AD had a higher risk of CKD than the non-AD comparator cohort (adjusted OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.21-1.40). In all age categories and in both men and women, there was a clear correlation between AD and an elevated risk of CKD. Additionally, there was a tendency of rising ORs as the frequency of clinical visits for AD increased (p = 0.002).

Overall, people with atopic dermatitis had a 30% higher chance of having chronic kidney disease than people without the disease, as illustrated by this Taiwanese research of 75,895 people. The increased risk was seen in both age and sex groups. The frequency of clinical visits for atopic dermatitis increased the risk of chronic renal disease, indicating a dose-dependent relationship.

Source:

Chen, H.-C., Chen, Y.-C., Chuang, M.-H., Chien, W.-C., Lin, T.-K., Kao, T.-H., Chou, Y.-C., Wu, C.-C., & Sun, C.-A. (2025). Increased risk of chronic kidney disease in atopic dermatitis: A nationwide, population‐based cohort analysis. The Journal of Dermatology, 1346-8138.17841. https://doi.org/10.1111/1346-8138.17841