Symptoms of Cognitive Impairment Among Children With Atopic Dermatitis
Clinical Summary
View sourceWhat was studied
A cross-sectional analysis of 2021 US National Health Interview Survey data examined whether caregiver-reported atopic dermatitis (AD) in children ≤17 years (excluding those with intellectual disability or autism) was associated with caregiver-reported learning or memory difficulties, adjusting for sociodemographics, asthma, food allergies, and seasonal allergies/hay fever.
Key findings
Children with AD had more learning difficulties (10.8% vs 5.9%; P<.001) and memory difficulties (11.1% vs 5.8%; P<.001); AD was associated with higher adjusted odds for learning (AOR 1.77; 95% CI 1.28-2.45) and memory difficulties (AOR 1.69; 95% CI 1.19-2.41). Among children with neurodevelopmental comorbidities, AD was linked to greater odds of memory difficulties (any neurodevelopmental disorder AOR 2.26; 95% CI 1.43-3.57; ADHD AOR 2.90; 95% CI 1.60-5.24; learning disability AOR 2.04; 95% CI 1.04-4.00), with no association in those without such conditions.
Study limitations
Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference. AD status and cognitive symptoms were caregiver-reported, and the exclusion of children with intellectual disability or autism may limit generalizability.
Clinical implications
Prioritize evaluation for learning and memory difficulties in children with AD who also have neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD or learning disabilities. Screening may be less useful for children with AD without these comorbidities, given no observed association.
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