Atopic dermatitis linked to increased risk of atrial fibrillation – Dermatology Times

Patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis may have a 20% increased risk of atrial fibrillation, suggests a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.1

Atrial fibrillation is common affecting 4% of individuals 60 years or older and carries with it an increased risk of stroke.2 Research has shown that inflammation is significant risk factor for developing atrial fibrillation, as patients with inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis or individuals with inflammatory biomarkers have been shown to be have an increased risk of atrial fibrillation.3,4

RELATED:More evidence of cardiovascular disease in atopic eczema

The authors of the study speculated that patients with atopic dermatitis might also have an increased risk for atrial fibrillation because of the presence of low-grade inflammation due to the disease and the increased prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes, among this group.5,6

To test their hypothesis, they conducted a nationwide population-based 35-year cohort study to examine whether patients in Denmark with hospital-diagnosed moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis were at long-term increased risk of atrial fibrillation.

Using the Danish National Patient Registry (DNPR) they identified patients born in Denmark between January 1, 1947 and January 1, 1983 who had received a hospital diagnosis of atopic dermatitis from January 1, 1977 until January 1 2013 and matched each with ten individuals of the same sex and birth year. Patients were followed up until death, emigration, atrial fibrillation diagnosis or until 2013.

References:

1. Schmidt SAJ, Olsen M, Schmidt M, et al. Atopic dermatitis and risk of atrial fibrillation or flutter: a 35-year follow-up study.Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2019);

2. Page RL. Clinical practice. Newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2004;351(23):24082416.

3. Lazzerini PE, Capecchi PL, Laghi-Pasini F. Systemic inflammation and arrhythmic risk: lessons from rheumatoid arthritis. Eur Heart J. 2017;38(22):17171727.

4. Upala S, Shahnawaz A, Sanguankeo A. Psoriasis increases risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective observational studies. J Dermatolog Treat. 2017;28(5):406410.

5. Silverberg JI, Becker L, Kwasny M et al. Central obesity and high blood pressure in pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis. JAMA Dermatol. 2015;151(2):144152.

6. Silverberg JI, Greenland P. Eczema and cardiovascular risk factors in 2 US adult population studies. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2015;135(3):7218.e726.

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Atopic dermatitis linked to increased risk of atrial fibrillation - Dermatology Times