Association between atopic dermatitis and COVID-19 infection: A case-control study in the All of Us research program

Background: There is an incomplete understanding of the risk of COVID-19 infection in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients.

Objective: To evaluate the risk of COVID-19 infection in AD patients in a large, diverse cohort.

Methods: A case-control study of the All of Us cohort to analyze the association between AD and COVID-19. Comorbidities and risk factors were compared between cases and controls using multivariable analyses.

Results: In a cohort of 11,752 AD cases with 47,008 matched controls, AD patients were more likely to have a COVID-19 diagnosis (4.2% vs 2.8%, P < .001). AD remained significantly associated with COVID-19 in multivariable analysis (odds ratio, 1.29; P < .001) after adjusting for demographic factors and comorbidities.

Limitations: Ascertainment of AD and COVID-19 cases using electronic health records and lack of clinical data on AD severity or therapy and COVID-19 outcomes.

Conclusion: AD is associated with increased odds of COVID-19 infection even after controlling for common comorbidities.