Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) Statistics

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Infographic about atopic dermatitis: 16.5 million U.S. adults affected; 9.6 million children; 6.6 million have moderate to severe cases; more common in females; 90% with daily itching; >50% affect daily life; $5.3 billion/year burden; 30% report anxiety or depression.

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Eczema Prevalence

Approximately 31.6 million people in the United States have some form of eczema 19

Atopic Dermatitis Prevalence

15-20% of children globally have atopic dermatitis (AD) 5
15.1% of children in the United States have AD 15
1-3% of adults globally have AD 5
7.3% of adults in the United States have AD 16

Definition of Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis, a form of eczema, is a chronic, non-contagious, inflammatory skin condition that causes dry and itchy skin which sometimes weeps clear fluid 1

Causes of Atopic Dermatitis

The exact cause of AD is unknown, but most cases are a combination of genetics and triggers 2

There are several genetic factors which may lead to AD:

Individuals who have a parent with a history of AD, asthma, or hay fever are more likely to develop AD 3
Some people have a mutation in the CARD11 gene, which affects immune system cells 3
Some people with AD have a mutation in the gene responsible for creating filaggrin, which is a protein that helps create a healthy outer layer of skin 3

There are multiple things that may trigger AD symptoms including:

Cosmetic Products 4,5
Clothing 4,5
Dust Mites 4
Detergents or Soap 4
Weather 4,5
Viral Infections 4,5
Food allergens 5
Fragrances 5

Symptoms of Atopic Dermatitis

AD affects the skin and common symptoms include:

Skin itching 6
Dry skin 6
Redness 6
Puffy or swollen skin 6
Oozing or crusting from skin 6
Raw Skin 6
Thick, leathery patches of skin 6

Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis

Treatment of AD may involve a combination of nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic interventions 7

Nonpharmacologic:

Skin moisturizers – should be applied after bathing 7
Bathing 7
Limit use of non-soap cleansers (should be low-pH, hypoallergenic, fragrance free) 7
Wet-wrap therapy 7

Pharmacologic (under direction of a medical provider):

Topical corticosteroids (if failure to respond to non-pharmacologic management) 7
Topical calcineurin inhibitors 7
Not routinely recommended for management – topical antimicrobial agents or antihistamines 7
Systemic immunomodulating medications 8
Biologics (Dupilumab, Tralokinumab-ldrm, Abrocitinib, Upadacitinib, Ruxolitinib ) 19, 20, 21, 22
Providers may also prescribe phototherapy 8

Atopic Dermatitis Disparities

AD is more common in black children than other racial or ethnic groups 17
AD is more common in children from families with higher incomes and education 17
Blacks and Asians/Pacific Islanders are more likely to seek medical care for AD 18

Atopic Dermatitis Burden

91% of patients experience itching on a daily basis 12
Adults with AD report higher rates of anxiety (29.8%), depression (31.2%) and sleep disturbances (33.2%) than the general population 24
Adults with AD report that it limits their lifestyle (51.3%), lead to avoiding social interaction (39.1%), and impacted activities (43.3%) 26
Children and adolescents with AD have higher rates of ADHD (12.6%), conduct disorders (7.74%), anxiety (7.25%), depression (6.52%), and autism (3.97%) than the general population 27
15.5% of adolescents with AD report suicidal ideation compared to 9.1% of adolescence without 13
- This increases to 23.8% in adolescence with AD and itching 13
47-66% of children with AD experience sleep disturbances 14, 25

Economic Burden of Atopic Dermatitis

The total annual cost of AD increased to estimated $5.3 billion in 2015 10

The direct costs associated with AD were over $1 billion annually in 2004 9

Average out of pocket expenses are $600 per year, with 42% reporting expenses of over $1000 and 85% reporting expenses over $5000 28
$636 million for office visits 9
$154 million for prescription medications 9
$108 million for outpatient hospital visits 9
$105 million for emergency department visits 9
$6 million for inpatient hospital stays 9

The indirect costs associated with AD were $619 million in 2004 9

$248.5 million for caregiver lost workdays 9
$188.1 million for restricted activity days 9
$182.6 million for lost workdays 9

References

Are there other conditions that may look like eczema but are not eczema?

There are other conditions that are different than eczema, but the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment vary depending upon the condition. Here are some of them.

Hereditary Angioedema

Psoriasis

Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria (CIU)

Cold Urticaria