Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Study Shows a Higher Burden of Disease for Patients with Adult- and Late Childhood-Onset Atopic Dermatitis vs. Patients with Early Childhood-Onset Atopic Dermatitis

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 4, 2018) - The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) today announced data demonstrating a higher burden of disease for patients with adult- and late childhood-onset atopic dermatitis (AD) vs patients with early childhood-onset AD. These results are from the Atopic Dermatitis in America Study, an independent research project of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America in partnership with the National Eczema Association (NEA) and sponsored by Sanofi Genzyme and Regeneron.

Results of the study, presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) and World Allergy Organization (WAO) Joint Congress, found:

• Adults with late childhood-onset AD (COAD) showed a greater adverse impact on quality of life than that of those with early
• People with adult-onset AD showed more symptoms of depression than adults with early COAD.
• There was no difference in disease severity among those with early-, late- COAD and adult-onset
  
  

Peck Ong, MD, Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California and Attending Physician at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles is one of the lead authors of this study. He said: “The Atopic Dermatitis in America study shows that adults with late childhood-onset AD and adult-onset AD carry just as much, if not a higher, disease burden as compared to those with early childhood-onset AD. These data help us better understand how the natural history of AD affects a patient’s disease burden and has implications as to how we allocate limited resources for diagnosis and management of different subgroups of AD patients.”

About the Atopic Dermatitis in America Study – Poster no. 412

This study was conducted for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America in collaboration with the National Eczema Association under the guidance of a Scientific Advisory Panel chaired by Zelma C. Chiesa Fuxench, MD, MSCE and Peck Ong, MD. The Advisory Panel includes: Mark Boguniewicz, MD; Luz Fonacier, MD; Joel Gelfand, MD, MSCE; David Margolis, MD, PhD; Lawrence Schwartz, MD, PhD; and Jonathan Silverberg, MD, PhD, MPH. Additional counsel was provided by Mitchell Grayson, MD, Eric Simpson, MD, MCR, Lynda Mitchell, MA from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and Julie Block, BA, from the National Eczema Foundation.

Atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic condition that causes skin to become dry and itchy. AD is the most common type of eczema. More than 18 million American are living with AD, which often appears as a red, itchy rash normally on the cheeks, arms and legs

About the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

Founded in 1953 and celebrating 65 years of service, AAFA is the oldest and largest non-profit patient organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with asthma, allergies and related conditions through research, education, advocacy and support. AAFA provides practical information and community-based services through its digital communities and national network of local chapters and educational support groups. Through its Kids With Food Allergies division, AAFA offers the most extensive online support community for families raising children with food allergies. AAFA also helps consumers identify products suitable for those with asthma and allergies through the asthma & allergy friendly® Certification Program. For more information, visit aafa.org.

About the National Eczema Foundation

The National Eczema Association (NEA) is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization whose mission is to improve the health and quality of life for individuals with eczema through research, support, and education. NEA was founded in 1988 by a group of patients, medical professionals, and parents who decided they could do something more to make living with this skin disease a great deal easier. As the sole patient advocacy organization serving people with eczema, NEA is active year-round to promote eczema awareness and address issues critical to patient care.