Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of Atopic Dermatitis: A Population - Based Pilot Study of Adults in Kaunas, Lithuania

Abstract

Background : According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 230 million people worldwide are affected by atopic dermatitis. The prevalence of atopic dermatitis has been rising at concerning rates for the past decade [1], affecting more and more people's physical and mental health [2]. We performed the first population-based pilot study in Lithuania in order to determine the prevalence and clinical features of atopic dermatitis in a northern living, Caucasian population. Objectives : To determine the prevalence of clinical characteristics in adult patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). Methods : A cross-sectional study was performed between February 2020 and March 2020 in Kaunas, Lithuania. The study was conducted on 247 adults of Caucasian origin aged 25–64 years. Subjects were randomly selected from the Lithuanian Population Register. The subjects were invited by a letter, 60 individuals from each decade (a random cluster sample n=839). The overall response rate was 29.4 %. The diagnosis of AD was confirmed by the Hanifin Raika criteria and evaluated by trained dermatologists. Height and weight for body mass index (BMI) were measured. The vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) level in serum was assessed, excluding those who have been taking vitamin D supplements or systemic corticosteroids and have had ultraviolet radiation exposure during the last four weeks. Results : 247 subjects with a mean ± SD age of 51.5 ± 10.9 years were enrolled in the study. AD was discovered in 4/247 (1.6%, 95% CI 0.6–4.0) participants with a mean age of 30.5 ± 4.3 years. Of them, 75% (3/4) of patients had the AD onset before 18 years old, suggesting that an early-onset AD is common. Among all participants (n = 247), the mean BMI was 28.1 ± 4.9 and 25.38 ± 6.18 in patients with AD, respectively. The Vitamin D concentration in serum was assessed in 117 subjects. A normal vitamin D level was found in 9 participants, a sufficient level in 43, and vitamin D deficiency in 65 subjects. Discussion : This study represents the first population-based pilot study in the Baltics to determine the prevalence of AD. For a better understanding of the demographic, clinical characteristics, and prevalence of AD, studies should be conducted with a higher number of participants.