Incidence of Cardiovascular Disease and Venous Thromboembolism in Patients With Atopic Dermatitis

Background Atopic dermatitis (AD) may increase risk for atherothrombotic and cardiovascular (CV) disease. Objective Determine CV disease and venous thromboembolism risk among patients with AD. Methods Cohort study using electronic health data from U.K. general practices in 1994 to 2015. Children (<18 y) and adults (≥18 y) with AD were matched to patients without AD on age, same practice, and encounter date. Treatments and specialist referrals served as proxies of AD severity. Outcomes were incident myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident (CVA), diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and pulmonary embolism. Cox regression analysis was used to compare outcomes in AD versus non-AD patients. Results Comparing 409,341 children with AD (93.2% mild, 5.5% moderate, and 1.3% severe) to 1,809,029 unaffected children, AD was associated with higher risk of DVT (hazard ratio [HR] 1.23; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.02–1.48) and severe AD was associated with higher risk of CVA (HR 2.43; 95% CI 1.13–5.22) and diabetes (HR 1.46; 95% CI 1.06–2.01). Comparing 625,083 adults with AD (65.7% mild, 31.4% moderate, and 2.9% severe) to 2,678,888 unaffected adults, AD, especially when severe, was associated with higher risk of DVT (HR 1.14; 95% CI 1.11–1.18; and HR 1.64; 95% CI 1.49–1.82, respectively) and small but increased risks of CVA, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Adults with severe AD had higher risk of myocardial infarction (HR 1.27; 95% CI 1.15–1.39), CVA (HR 1.21; 95% CI 1.13–1.30), diabetes (HR 1.15; 95% CI 1.09–1.22), dyslipidemia (HR 1.11; 95% CI 1.06–1.17), and pulmonary embolism (HR 1.39; 95% CI 1.21–1.60) compared with adults without AD. Conclusions Atopic dermatitis, particularly when severe, is associated with small but increased risks of CV risk factors and events and significantly increased risk of venous thromboembolism. Atopic dermatitis (AD) may increase risk for atherothrombotic and cardiovascular (CV) disease. Determine CV disease and venous thromboembolism risk among patients with AD. Cohort study using electronic health data from U.K. general practices in 1994 to 2015. Children (<18 y) and adults (≥18 y) with AD were matched to patients without AD on age, same practice, and encounter date. Treatments and specialist referrals served as proxies of AD severity. Outcomes were incident myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident (CVA), diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and pulmonary embolism. Cox regression analysis was used to compare outcomes in AD versus non-AD patients. Comparing 409,341 children with AD (93.2% mild, 5.5% moderate, and 1.3% severe) to 1,809,029 unaffected children, AD was associated with higher risk of DVT (hazard ratio [HR] 1.23; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.02–1.48) and severe AD was associated with higher risk of CVA (HR 2.43; 95% CI 1.13–5.22) and diabetes (HR 1.46; 95% CI 1.06–2.01). Comparing 625,083 adults with AD (65.7% mild, 31.4% moderate, and 2.9% severe) to 2,678,888 unaffected adults, AD, especially when severe, was associated with higher risk of DVT (HR 1.14; 95% CI 1.11–1.18; and HR 1.64; 95% CI 1.49–1.82, respectively) and small but increased risks of CVA, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Adults with severe AD had higher risk of myocardial infarction (HR 1.27; 95% CI 1.15–1.39), CVA (HR 1.21; 95% CI 1.13–1.30), diabetes (HR 1.15; 95% CI 1.09–1.22), dyslipidemia (HR 1.11; 95% CI 1.06–1.17), and pulmonary embolism (HR 1.39; 95% CI 1.21–1.60) compared with adults without AD. Atopic dermatitis, particularly when severe, is associated with small but increased risks of CV risk factors and events and significantly increased risk of venous thromboembolism.