Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a widespread dermatological condition, particularly affecting children globally. In spite of its high prevalence, comprehensive data on its burden and trends are limited.
Methods: Using the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 (GBD 2021) data from 204 countries and 21 regions (1990-2021), we analyzed AD prevalence, incidence, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), calculating age-standardized rates (ASRs) and estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs).
Objective: This study is designed to examine the temporal trends in the burden of AD across global, regional, and national levels.
Results: Globally, AD cases rose from 107.5 million (1990) to 129.0 million (2021). The high-income Asia Pacific region had instances of age-standardized prevalence (ASPR), age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), and age-standardized DALYs, with Japan leading among 204 countries. High sociodemographic index (SDI) regions showed the highest ASPR, ASIR, and age-standardized DALYs, while medium and high SDI regions experienced the largest increases. Females exhibited higher ASRs than males. Age-specific prevalence and DALYs peaked in children aged 5-9 years, whereas incidence was the highest in those aged under 5 years. Projections based on 1990-2021 data suggest declining global trends in ASPR, ASIR, and age-standardized DALYs by 2050.
Conclusions: Global AD prevalence and DALYs continue to rise, whereas ASPR and age-standardized DALYs are declining. High SDI regions exhibit the highest prevalence, yet low-income countries show increasing age-standardized DALYs, underscoring profound regional heterogeneity. Thus, the absolute burden of AD is escalating worldwide, while individual-level risk appears to be improving.
Keywords: age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR); age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR); atopic dermatitis; disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).
Copyright: Duan YJ, et al.