Atopic dermatitis poses heightened risk of venous thromboembolism

Adults with atopic dermatitis (AD) appear to have an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), although the risk difference relative to adults without AD is quite small, as reported in a study.

The population-based nationwide cohort study included 284,858 participants, of which 142,429 had AD (mean age 44.9 years, 27.5 percent women) and 142,429 had no AD (control; mean age 44.1 years, 55.9 percent women). Patients with AD were further divided into subgroups according to the severity of the disease.

Over more than 7 years of follow-up, 1,066 participants in the AD group and 829 in the control group had VTE, with incidence rates of 1.05 and 0.82 per 1,000 person-years, respectively.

Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that compared with control, AD was associated with an increased risk of incident VTE (hazard ratio [HR], 1.28, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.17–1.40) and its subtypes deep vein thrombosis (HR, 1.26, 95 percent CI, 1.14–1.40) and pulmonary embolism (HR, 1.30, 95 percent CI, 1.08–1.57).

Moreover, results of the subgroup analysis indicated that the risk of VTE was at least 30-percent higher among adults with mild AD (HR, 1.30, 95 percent CI, 1.12–1.51) and severe AD (HR, 1.35, 95 percent CI, 1.19–1.53) compared with no-AD controls. There was no significant difference in the risk of VTE between those with severe and mild AD (HR, 1.04, 95 percent CI, 0.92–1.18). Results for the risks of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism were consistent the results for VTE.

The findings suggest that although the risk of VTE is increased for adults with AD, the absolute risk appears small as compared with those who have no AD. However, cardiovascular examination and imperative management should be considered for adults with AD who present with symptoms suggestive of VTE.