What question did this study set out to answer?

The study aims to investigate if the combination of atopic dermatitis and chronic kidney disease increases mortality risk beyond each condition alone.

March 13, 2026Open Access

Combined effect of atopic dermatitis and chronic kidney disease on overall and cardiovascular disease mortality

Key Points

The study aims to investigate if the combination of atopic dermatitis and chronic kidney disease increases mortality risk beyond each condition alone.
Analyzed data from 10,462 adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999–2006)
Grouped participants by presence of atopic dermatitis and chronic kidney disease
Compared all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality using Cox proportional hazards models
Conducted stratified analysis for participants under 65 years
Overall mortality was 11.68%, with highest rates in the AD+/CKD+ group at 32.35%
CVD mortality was 16.91% in the AD+/CKD+ group
HAZARD ratios indicated a significant increase in mortality risk for the AD+/CKD+ group (2.87 for all-cause, 4.02 for CVD)
Younger individuals (under 65 years) showed a stronger association between conditions and mortality

Abstract

There is growing evidence that inflammatory skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis (AD), are associated with an increased prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The current study aimed to explore whether AD and CKD comorbidity confers a greater mortality risk than either condition alone. A total of 10,462 adults from the 1999–2006 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were categorized into four mutually exclusive groups: AD−/CKD− (reference) group (n = 7998), AD+/CKD− group (n = 946), AD−/CKD+ group (n = 1378), and AD+/CKD+ group (n = 140). All-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality were compared among the four groups using Cox proportional hazards models. Overall, 1715 (11.68%) participants died during a median follow-up period of 192 months, of which 601 were CVD deaths. All-cause mortality (32.35%; n = 51) and CVD mortality (16.91%; n = 27) were highest in the AD+/CKD+ group. The hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for the AD+/CKD− group, AD−/CKD+ group, and AD+/CKD+ group were 1.11 (0.91–1.36), 1.35 (1.12–1.63), and 2.87 (2.07–3.98), respectively, for all-cause mortality, and 1.06 (0.71–1.59), 1.59 (1.25–2.04), and 4.02 (2.46–6.58), respectively, for CVD mortality. Stratified analysis indicated that the association between AD and CKD status with all-cause and CVD mortality was more pronounced in participants aged under 65 years. Sensitivity analysis obtained similar result. Thus, the concomitant presence of AD and CKD was significantly associated with an increased risk of all-cause and CVD mortality, particularly in individuals under 65 years of age. Thus, appropriate screening for AD in CKD patients or CKD in AD patients may be of potential utility for risk stratification.

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