Ten-year mortality is increased after hospitalization for atopic dermatitis compared with the general population, but reduced compared with psoriasis

Background: Psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (AD) are chronic inflammatory skin disorders. Mortality is increased in psoriasis, yet no studies on mortality in AD are currently available.

Objective: We investigated 10-year mortality after hospitalization for AD compared with psoriasis and the general population.

Methods: Between 1996 and 2002 all Danes aged 18 years or older with a first-time hospitalization as a result of AD or psoriasis and AD-matched healthy control subjects were examined in nationwide registers. Multivariable (adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic status, Charlson Comorbidity Index score, smoking, and medication) hazard ratios were estimated by Cox regression.

Results: The study comprised 576 and 951 hospitalized patients with AD and psoriasis, respectively, with a maximum follow-up time of 10 years. During the study period, there were 65 and 286 deaths among patients with AD and psoriasis. Risk of death was decreased in patients with AD versus psoriasis (hazard ratio 0.75; 95% confidence interval 0.57-1.00), but higher than in general population control subjects (n = 5760) (hazard ratio 1.71; 95% confidence interval 1.20-2.44). Patients hospitalized with AD died on average 8.3 years younger than control subjects.

Limitations: Lifestyle may have affected the risk.

Conclusions: The 10-year mortality was significantly lower after hospitalization for AD compared with psoriasis, but increased when compared with the general population.