Prevalence of self-reported doctor-diagnosed eczema in Italian adults, and risk factors for its occurrence and remission

Background: Studies on the prevalence and determinants of eczema have been mostly performed in children, whereas studies on adult populations are lacking.[1]Objectives: To determine the prevalence of lifetime and current eczema in the adult population in Italy, and investigate risk factors associated with the occurrence and remission of the disease.Methods: A postal screening questionnaire was administered to 23,812 randomly selected subjects aged 20-84 years in Gene-Environment Interaction in Respiratory Diseases (GEIRD) study, which involved 7 Italian centers (Verona, Pavia, Turin, Ancona, Terni, Salerno, Sassari). The questionnaire included questions on the occurrence of doctor-diagnosed eczema, socio-demographic characteristics and environmental exposures.[2] The prevalence of current and lifetime eczema, and risk factors associated with its occurrence and remission (i.e.>3yrs since last symptom of eczema), were estimated using logistic regression models.Results: 13,691 (57.5%) subjects responded to the questionnaire. The prevalence of current and lifetime doctor-diagnosed eczema was 8.5% and 14.9%, respectively, and it was similar across the centers. Eczema was more common in females (OR:1.43;95%CI:1.23-1.66) and in people who smoked or used to smoke (OR:1.25;95%CI:1.08-1.46). Living close to industrial implants was associated with increased risk of having eczema (OR:1.32; 95%CI:1.09-1.59), as well as heavy-traffic level near home (high vs.low: OR:1.55; 95%CI:1.26-1.90; medium vs.low: OR:1.32; 95%CI:1.11-1.57). Subjects with higher school education level (high vs.low: OR:1.61; 95%CI:1.10-2.36; medium vs.low: OR:1.38; 95%CI:0.99-1.94) and living in the countryside (OR:1.76; 95%CI:1.15-2.70) were more likely to have remission of the disease compared to people with lower education and living in the urban environment.Conclusions: Eczema is a common disease in Italian adults, especially in women. Our data suggest that environmental air pollution may increase the risk of having eczema in the population, and that high socio-economic status and living in a rural environment may be associated with remission of the disease. References: 1. Harrop J, Chinn S, Verlato G, et al. (2007). Clin Exp Allergy,37,526-35. 2. de Marco R, Accordini S, Antonicelli L, et al.(2010). Int Arch Allergy Immunol, 152(3):255-6