Severe Eczema Raises CV Risk

Severe atopic eczema is associated with an elevated cardiovascular (CV) risk, according to new research.

This finding emerged from a study of 387,439 adult patients with atopic eczema, along with 1,528,477 healthy controls. Median follow-up lasted 5.1 years.
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The primary outcomes of the study were CV outcomes, such as myocardial infarction (MI), unstable angina, heart failure (HF), atrial fibrillation (AF), stroke, and CV mortality.

Findings from the study revealed that patients with atopic eczema had a 10% to 20% increased risk for non-fatal primary outcomes, with a strong dose-response relationship observed based on eczema severity.

The researchers found that patients with severe atopic eczema had a 20% higher risk for stroke (hazard ratio [HR] 1.22); a 40% to 50% higher risk for MI, unstable angina, AF, and CV mortality; and a 70% higher risk for HF (HR 1.69).

Furthermore, patients with the most active atopic eczema—defined as active for more than 50% of follow-up—had an increased risk for CV outcomes. Although adjustment for CV risk factors partially attenuated point estimates, associations remained for severe atopic eczema.

“Severe and predominantly active atopic eczema are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular outcomes,” the researchers concluded. “Targeting cardiovascular disease prevention strategies among these patients should be considered.”

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Silverwood RJ, Forbes HJ, Abuabara K, et al. Severe and predominantly active atopic eczema in adulthood and long term risk of cardiovascular disease: population based cohort study [Published online May 23, 2018]. BMJ. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k1786