Mean cumulative lifetime prevalence of eczema 9.9 percent

(HealthDay)—The mean cumulative lifetime prevalence of atopic eczema is 9.9 percent, according to a research letter published online Dec. 4 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Katrina Abuabara, M.D., from the University of California in Los Angeles, and colleagues estimated the age-specific prevalence of active atopic eczema across the life span using data from 1994 to 2013 from the Health Improvement Network. They calculated the prevalence of active disease requiring a physician visit or prescription during each year of follow-up.

The researchers found that the cumulative lifetime prevalence of atopic eczema was 9.9 percent among 8,604,333 persons aged 0 to 99 years, with the highest rates of active disease seen among children and older adults. The mean prevalence of active atopic eczema during a given year was 6.9 percent overall and 12.3, 5.1, and 8.7 percent among children aged 0 to 17 years, adults aged 18 to 74 years, and adults aged 75 to 99 years, respectively. Per year, patients received a median of six prescriptions for atopic eczema, including topical steroids and systemic treatments; across ages, the number of annual prescriptions was similar. Adults aged 18 to 74 years had the highest rates of comorbid atopic disease.

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