Atopic Dermatitis and Sleep Disorders.

PURPOSE: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease affecting 129 million people worldwide and is characterized by recurrent eczema, severe pruritus, and skin barrier damage. Previous studies on AD-sleep disorder associations were limited by small sample sizes or single-center designs, lacking large-scale epidemiological evidence. This study aimed to investigate the association between AD and sleep disorders using the UK Biobank prospective cohort and to explore effects of sex, race, and obesity on this relationship.

METHODS

A prospective cohort design was employed, including 329,796 participants for cross-sectional analysis and 330,875 for longitudinal analysis. Multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models were used. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to validate robustness.

RESULTS

Cross-sectional analysis showed that AD was significantly associated with increased sleep disorder risk (adjusted odds ratio, 2.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.54-3.18; P < 0.001), while the longitudinal analysis confirmed AD as an independent predictor of sleep disorders (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.32-1.73; P < 0.001), with Kaplan-Meier curves further demonstrating a higher cumulative risk of sleep disorders in participants with AD. Subgroup analyses revealed stronger associations in females and participants with moderate body mass index (BMI), and sensitivity analyses validated the robustness of these findings.

CONCLUSIONS

AD is an independent risk factor for sleep disorders, particularly in women and individuals with moderate BMI. Future research should further explore precision-targeted therapies and management strategies for specific populations.