The Use of Real-World Data to Evaluate the Association Between Atopic Dermatitis and Cardiovascular Disease: A Retrospective Claims Analysis

INTRODUCTION: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a systemic inflammatory condition that may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, ongoing debate exists surrounding its direct association. We aimed to elucidate whether AD contributes to a higher incidence of CVD and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in adult patients with AD, independent of metabolic disorders. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed a large US-based population of patients with AD (≥ 18 years of age). Logistic regression estimated the risk of CVD and MACE in adult patients with AD, independent of metabolic disorders (including diabetes, hypertension, and obesity). RESULTS: The odds ratio (OR; 95% confidence interval [CI]) for patients without metabolic disorders was 1.25 (1.13, 1.39) for CVD and 1.22 (1.01, 1.47) for MACE. The OR (95% CI) for AD patients with metabolic disorders was 1.09 (1.07, 1.12) for CVD and 1.14 (1.09, 1.18) for MACE. This trend was even more pronounced after long-term follow-up (≥ 3 years). Lifestyle and health behavioral factors of the subjects were not available in the dataset. The lack of control for these factors could potentially confound our results. CONCLUSIONS: Atopic dermatitis may contribute to the risk of developing CVD and MACE in adults, independent of metabolic disorders.