Prevalence and Clinical Features of Atopic Dermatitis in China

Abstract

Background. The epidemiology of atopic dermatitis (AD) in Chinese outpatients is yet to be clarified.Objectives. To investigate population-based prevalence and clinical features of AD in Chinese outpatients.Methods. A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in outpatients with eczema or dermatitis from 39 tertiary hospitals in 15 provinces.Results. This study included 682 patients diagnosed with AD, with the mean age of28.8±20.1years and the median course of5.3±6.9years. AD patients had more severe itching (30.4% versus 13.8%,p<0.001) and clinically suspected bacterial infection (21.7% versus 16.1%,p<0.001) than those of other types of dermatitis. Older patients were more susceptible to have a history of flexion dermatitis (p<0.001), bacterial infection (p=0.005), and severe itching (p<0.001). Outpatients with clinically suspected bacterial infection had 3.53-fold increased risk of AD than those without it (p<0.001). The morbidity rate of AD in the (20–25°N) region is 2.86 times higher than that in the (40–45°N) region [OR (95% CI): 0.352 (0.241–0.514),p<0.001].Conclusions. AD is characterized by unique clinical/demographic features. Bacterial infection and latitude region may have an impact on the incidence of AD in China.