Recent studies based on population-based data show that atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with a learning disability (LD) in children. However, the exact association and severity are not known. This study aims to assess the relationship between AD severity and learning disability in children with AD.
This cross-sectional study included a total of 2,074 patients aged 2-17 years with a physician-confirmed diagnosis of AD. The severity of the disease was measured using a Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) score and self-reporting. The primary outcome of the study was a learning disability diagnosed by the physician.
The findings suggested that a total of 169 (8.2%) children with AD had an LD. It was reported that children with an LD were likely to have a worse AD disease severity than those without an LD, as measured by the POEM score. Multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, family history of AD, and comorbid conditions showed that patients with mild AD, moderate AD, and severe AD all had a higher risk of an LD than those without an AD.
The research concluded that patients with AD were at higher risk of LD, with the risk increasing with the level of disease severity.
Ref: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/article-abstract/2778390?resultClick=1
