Children with Atopic Dermatitis not at Increased Cardiovascular Risk in adulthood: JAMA
A population-based UK cohort study found that children and adolescents with atopic dermatitis (AD), even those with more severe or persistent disease, did not show increased markers of cardiovascular risk into early adulthood. These findings suggest that routine cardiovascular risk screening for all children with atopic dermatitis may not be necessary for early risk detection. The study was published in JAMA Network Open by Morgan Y. and colleagues.
The longitudinal cohort study used Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children conducted between 1991 and 2017 in the UK. This study consisted of 9,281 children who were alive at age 1 year and had at least one measure of AD and cardiovascular risk factors. Cardiometabolic risk scores were used as outcomes measured at age 15 years, 17 years, and 24 years. Other outcomes used were body mass index, blood pressure, and lipid profiles measured up to 12 times between ages 3 and 24 years. In addition, subclinical atherosclerosis measured using ultrasonography at age 17 years and 24 years.
Key findings:
Among participants, 4,669 (50.31%) were male. Repeated cardiovascular risk factors were measured at various stages of development, including 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, and 24 years.
Multivariable analyses failed to reveal an association between active AD and cardiovascular risk factors.
Only two significant associations were observed for LDL cholesterol, but they were in opposite directions.
A decrease in LDL cholesterol was observed at age 3 years (mean difference -0.33 standard deviation; 95% CI, -0.58 to -0.07) and an increase at age 10 years (mean difference +0.14 standard deviation; 95% CI, +0.03 to +0.24).
More importantly, children with more prolonged and severe AD over time did not have greater cardiometabolic risk scores or subclinical atherosclerotic changes in adolescence and early adulthood.
The study design involved extensive follow-up over various stages of development. The data for cardiovascular risk factors were available for 1,001 children (10.79%) at age 3 years, 908 (9.78%) at 4 years, 838 (9.03%) at 5 years, 6,352 (68.44%) at 7 years, 6,205 (66.86%) at 10 years, 5,629 (60.65%) at 11 years, 4,968 (53.53%) at 13 years, 3,502 (37.73%) at 15 years, 4,738 (51.05%) at 17 years, and 3,626 (39.07%) at 24 years.
Childhood atopic dermatitis, including persistent and more severe forms of this condition, does not have any association with cardiovascular risks. This shows that cardiovascular screenings may not be necessary.
Reference:
Ye M, McCulloch CE, Iribarren C, Langan SM, Abuabara K. Atopic Dermatitis and Markers of Early Cardiovascular Risk in Children and Adolescents. JAMA Netw Open. 2026;9(3):e262962. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.2962
