Anthropometric patterns in children with moderate‐to‐severe atopic dermatitis: Cross‐sectional insights from the TREATkids cohort

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The relationship between atopic dermatitis (AD), weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) in children and adolescents and the impact of systemic treatments is controversial. We report the distribution of weight, height, and BMI in the German TREATkids cohort compared to a standardized German cohort (Kromeyer-Hauschild) and the impact of systemic glucocorticoids. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This multicenter, prospective study analyzed weight and height data from pediatric patients (2-17 years) with moderate-to-severe AD enrolled in TREATkids. RESULTS: According to Kromeyer-Hauschild metrics, the median height, weight, and BMI of the TREATkids cohort were 42nd, 52nd, and 59th percentiles, respectively. A height deficit was observed compared to the reference population. Despite shorter stature, the children exhibited weight percentiles comparable to the general population. This combination of reduced height and normal weight led to high BMI-for-age percentiles. A sensitivity analysis excluding patients who had received systemic corticosteroids showed similar results for height-for-age, weight-for-age, and BMI-for-age percentiles. CONCLUSIONS: Children and adolescents with moderate-to-severe AD in TREATkids exhibit distinct anthropometric patterns, characterized by height deficits but normal weight distribution, independent of systemic glucocorticoid treatment.