Recent research has underscored a significant link between eczema and cardiovascular health, highlighting potential implications for patient care and preventive strategies.
Atopic dermatitis, a common chronic inflammatory skin condition affecting millions globally, has long been associated with various challenges including stress, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and depression. Moreover, it has been linked to factors known to increase cardiovascular risk such as increased body weight, smoking, and alcohol consumption.
While previous studies yielded conflicting findings on whether atopic dermatitis directly correlates with cardiovascular disease risk, a new study published in Clinical and Experimental Dermatology has provided more conclusive evidence. Researchers conducted a propensity-matched retrospective study analyzing medical records spanning two decades, encompassing over two million patients, half of whom had atopic dermatitis. Crucially, patients were matched based on key factors like age, ethnicity, gender, and established cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, obesity, and diabetes status.
The study revealed that individuals with atopic dermatitis faced a significantly heightened risk of developing a range of cardiovascular diseases. Specifically, they were found to have over a 50% increased risk across 53 different cardiovascular conditions compared to their matched counterparts without eczema.
Among the notable increases in risk for atopic dermatitis patients were chronic peripheral venous insufficiency (63% increase), atherosclerosis (53%), and congestive heart failure (43%). Additionally, elevated risks were observed for pulmonary hypertension (31%), atrial fibrillation (28%), cardiomyopathy (27%), venous thromboembolism (23%), and acute myocardial infarction (19%).
Researchers suggested that the persistent systemic inflammation characteristic of atopic dermatitis might contribute to the heightened cardiovascular risk observed. They also posited that oral corticosteroid treatments, commonly used to manage severe cases of eczema, might further exacerbate this risk.
Professor Garry Jennings, Chief Medical Officer of the Heart Foundation, emphasized the importance of understanding this connection to improve patient care and identify potential therapeutic targets. He highlighted the need for increased vigilance among clinicians, particularly in screening younger patients with severe atopic dermatitis for cardiovascular risk factors.
The study did not delve into the impact of disease severity on cardiovascular risk, which could vary among patients. However, researchers suggested that more severe cases of atopic dermatitis might present with higher hazard ratios for cardiovascular diseases compared to milder cases.
In conclusion, the findings underscore the need for integrated care approaches that consider both dermatologic and cardiovascular health in patients with atopic dermatitis. The implications extend to clinical practice, where early screening and management of cardiovascular risk factors could potentially mitigate the increased risk associated with this common skin condition.
For more information, Professor Jennings recommended healthcare providers consider leveraging existing screening tools like Medicare’s subsidized Heart Health Check, particularly for atopic dermatitis patients with severe symptoms or additional risk factors.
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