Descriptive study of dietary patterns and comorbidities in adults and children with atopic dermatitis

Abstract

Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition with increasing prevalence worldwide, significantly affecting quality of life. While dietary factors are suspected to influence the onset and severity of AD, the relationship between comprehensive dietary patterns and AD, particularly in conjunction with comorbidities such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, and food allergies, remains underexplored. This study aims to investigate the dietary patterns of adults and children with AD
and their association with disease severity and the presence of comorbidities.
Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 150 patients diagnosed with AD, recruited from the Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology (DVL). Dietary patterns
were assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and AD severity was measured
using the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index. The presence of comorbidities, including asthma,
allergic rhinitis, and food allergies, was confirmed through patient history, clinical examination, and
review of medical records. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, t-tests, and
multivariate logistic regression.
Results: The study found that the mixed diet pattern had the highest adherence (mean ± SD: 7.1 ± 1.9),
followed by vegetarian (5.8 ± 1.9) and non-vegetarian (5.1 ± 2.0) patterns. The mean SCORAD index
was 43.8 ± 14.1, indicating moderate to severe AD. Pruritus and sleep loss scores were 5.1 ± 2.0 and 4.1
± 1.9, respectively. The prevalence of comorbidities was 36.7% for asthma, 57.3% for allergic rhinitis,
and 32.0% for food allergies. The study identified significant associations between dietary patterns and
AD severity, as well as with the presence of comorbidities.
Conclusions: This study highlights the potential impact of dietary patterns on AD severity and the high
prevalence of comorbidities among individuals with AD. The findings suggest that a mixed dietary
pattern may be commonly adhered to by AD patients and could play a role in managing the disease. The
study emphasizes the need for a multidisciplinary approach in managing AD, considering both dietary
interventions and the treatment of comorbid conditions.