Atopic dermatitis is associated with an increased risk for rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, and a decreased risk for type 1 diabetes

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Jochen Schmitt - , Center for Evidence-Based Healthcare, University Allergy Centre (Author)
  • Kristin Schwarz - , Center for Evidence-Based Healthcare (Author)
  • Hansjörg Baurecht - , University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel (Author)
  • Melanie Hotze - , University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel (Author)
  • Regina Fölster-Holst - , University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel (Author)
  • Elke Rodríguez - , University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel (Author)
  • Young A.E. Lee - , Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Andre Franke - , Kiel University (Author)
  • Frauke Degenhardt - , University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel University (Author)
  • Wolfgang Lieb - , University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel (Author)
  • Christian Gieger - , Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health (Author)
  • Michael Kabesch - , University of Regensburg (Author)
  • Markus M. Nöthen - , University of Bonn (Author)
  • Alan D. Irvine - , Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, National Children's Research Centre, Trinity College Dublin (Author)
  • W. H.Irwin McLean - , University of Dundee (Author)
  • Stefanie Deckert - , Center for Evidence-Based Healthcare (Author)
  • Victoria Stephan - , Center for Evidence-Based Healthcare (Author)
  • Peter Schwarz - , Department of internal Medicine 3 (Author)
  • Martin Aringer - , Department of internal Medicine 3 (Author)
  • Natalija Novak - , University of Bonn (Author)
  • Stephan Weidinger - , University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel (Author)

Abstract

Background Atopic dermatitis (AD) is characterized by epidermal barrier failure and immune-mediated inflammation. Evidence on AD as a potential risk factor for inflammatory comorbidities is scarce. Objectives We sought to test the hypothesis that prevalent AD is a risk factor for incident rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; Crohn disease [CD], ulcerative colitis [UC]) and is inversely related to type 1 diabetes (T1D) and to investigate established RA, IBD, and T1D susceptibility loci in AD. Methods This cohort study used data from German National Health Insurance beneficiaries aged 40 years or younger (n = 655,815) from 2005 through 2011. Prevalent AD in the period 2005 to 2006 was defined as primary exposure, and incident RA, IBD, and T1D in the period 2007 to 2011 were defined as primary outcomes. Risk ratios were calculated with generalized linear models. Established RA, IBD, and T1D loci were explored in high-density genotyping data from 2,425 cases with AD and 5,449 controls. Results Patients with AD (n = 49,847) were at increased risk for incident RA (risk ratio [RR], 1.72; 95% CI, 1.25-2.37) and/or IBD (CD: RR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.11-1.61; UC: RR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.03-1.53). After adjusting for health care utilization, there was a nominally significant inverse effect on T1D risk (RR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.53-0.998). There was no disproportionate occurrence of known RA, CD, UC, or T1D risk alleles in AD. Conclusions AD is a risk factor for the development of RA and IBD. This excess comorbidity cannot be attributed to major known IBD and RA genetic risk factors.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)130-136
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of allergy and clinical immunology
Volume137
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2016
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 26253344

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • Atopic dermatitis, cohort study, epidemiology, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes