Patient-reported comorbidities with AD
In the total population, 9906 patients (60.95%) did not identify any
comorbid diseases, 4717 patients (29.02%) identified as having one
comorbid disease, while 1631 patients (10.03%) identified as having
more than one comorbid diseases. Among patients who have identified as
having at least one atopic comorbidity, allergic rhinitis had the
highest prevalence, followed by food allergy, asthma, chronic urticaria,
and drug allergy (Table 2). Patients having asthma and food allergy
comprised a significantly higher proportion of severe AD, whereas
patients with allergic rhinitis comprised a significantly higher
proportion of moderate AD. Meanwhile, patients comorbid with chronic
urticaria comprised a significantly higher proportion of mild AD.
Remarkably, chronic urticaria (odds ratio [OR], 0.74; 95% CI:
0.63–0.87) might be protective against AD, whereas food allergies (OR,
1.21; 95% CI: 1.06–1.37, P = 0.003) might be a risk factor for AD.
Among patients who were identified as having at least one non-atopic
comorbidity, hypertension was the highest prevalence, followed by
diabetes and coronary heart disease (Table 2). Patients with
hypertension, diabetes, and coronary heart disease comprised a
significantly higher proportion of severe AD compared to mild and
moderate. The non-atopic comorbidities of hypertension (OR, 1.61,
95%CI: 1.35-1.93, P<0.001) and diabetes (OR, 1.64, 95%CI:
1.27-2.12, P<0.001) are potential aggravating factors for AD.