Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Patients With Atopic Dermatitis

JAMA Dermatology
Open Access

Clinical Summary

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What was studied

A UK population-based matched cohort (THIN database, 1994–2015) compared children and adults with atopic dermatitis (AD) to up to 5 controls to assess incident inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn disease (CD), and ulcerative colitis (UC); AD severity was proxied by treatment exposure.

Key findings

Children with AD had higher risk of IBD (HR 1.44, 95% CI 1.31–1.58) and CD (HR 1.74, 1.54–1.97) but not UC overall (HR 1.09, 0.94–1.27), except severe AD (HR 1.65, 1.02–2.67). Adults with AD had increased risk of IBD (HR 1.34, 1.27–1.40), CD (HR 1.36, 1.26–1.47), and UC (HR 1.32, 1.24–1.41); risk rose with AD severity (e.g., severe AD: pediatric IBD HR 2.59, CD HR 4.80; adult IBD HR 2.27, CD HR 3.50, UC HR 2.40).

Study limitations

AD severity was classified by treatment exposure rather than clinical scores. The methods state logistic regression, yet results report hazard ratios, creating ambiguity about the modeling approach.

Clinical implications

Expect higher IBD risk—especially Crohn’s—in patients with AD, with risk increasing as AD severity worsens; in severe AD, the elevation is substantial. Be alert to gastrointestinal symptoms, particularly in severe AD, and weigh this risk when choosing systemic therapy.