Incidence and natural history

Approximately 30% of the UK are atopic but the incidence of atopic dermatitis is about 3 - 10%

• there is evidence that this may be increasing as a result of progressive urbanisation and increasing use of irritants and pollutants in the home. It is less common but more severe and persistent in certain ethnic groups such as the Chinese than than in caucasians.
• eczema affects 5% to 20% of children and 2% to 5% of adults worldwide
• eczema mainly affects infants and young children, but it can persist, relapse, or first develop in adulthood
  • about 50% of patients develop the condition within the first year of life
  • about 80% of cases develop before the age of five years
  • less than 2% develop after the age of 20 years
  • the Odense Adolescence Cohort Study (TOACS) showed that up to 50% of patients had persistent eczema in adulthood (3)

Reference:

• NICE (December 2007).Atopic eczema in children Management of atopic eczema in children from birth up to the age of 12 years.
• Sawangjit R et al. Systemic treatments for eczema: a network meta-analysis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2020, Issue 9. Art. No.: CD013206. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD013206.pub2
• Mortz CG et al. Atopic dermatitis from adolescence to adulthood in the TOACS cohort: prevalence, persistence and comorbidities. Allergy 2015;70(7):836–45