SF | DERMATOLOGY
January 2022 | Vol. 22 No. 1 www.medicalacademic.co.za
33
This article was independently sourced by Specialist Forum.
People with dermatitis at high risk of osteoporosis, major fractures
A recent study found that people with atopic dermatitis (AD) or eczema, have an increased risk of fracture - particularly major osteoporotic fractures.1,2
T
he study by Lowe et al , the largest to date to examine the relationship between AD and fractures, was published in the February 2020 issue of The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The team found a strong association between the risk of fracture and the severity of AD. The strongest associations were found in people with severe AD (compared to those without) for spinal, pelvic, and hip fractures.1
The link AD is a common, chronic, pruritic
inflammatory skin disease, occurring in about 10% of adults. Its onset is generally at a young age and follows a relapsing course. AD is often associated with elevated serum immunoglobulin levels and a personal or family history of type I allergies, allergic rhinitis, and asthma.1,2 The International Osteoporosis Foundation defines osteoporosis, which means porous bone, as a disease in which the density and quality of bone are reduced. As bones become more porous and fragile, the risk of fracture increases greatly. The loss of bone occurs silently and
progressively. Often there are no symptoms until the first fracture occurs. Reducing fractures is an important public health goal because fractures are associated with increased morbidity and mortality.1,4 According to Garg et al (2014) patients with AD have multiple potential risk factors for decreased bone mineral density (BMD), including using large quantities of topical and systemic corticosteroids (CS). These patients are also at high risk of chronic inflammation. Furthermore, AD is associated with distraction from itch, mental health comorbidities, and sleep
