Outline of studies examining the prevalence and incidence of atopic eczema
| Authors (reference) | Setting | Design | Subjects | Atopic eczema/dermatitis | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prevalence | Cumulative incidence | ||||||||
| Kay J et al (11) 1994 | All children aged 3 to 11 years were identified from a socially and ethnically mixed General practice in England. | Structured interviews carried out with parent(s) and where possible with child. Medical notes also consulted | 1077 children aged 3–11 years from an identified (from GP register) population of 1104 (97.6% response rate) | 10–14% in boys aged 3–11 15% in girls aged 3–5 8% in girls aged 9–11 | 20% in boys (12% in last year) 19% in girls (11% in last year) (up to age 11 inclusive) | ||||
| Schultz-Larsen F et al (16) 1986 | Identified representative twin series with atopic dermatitis via a mailed questionnaire study of twins living on Danish island of Fyn | Postal questionnaire of parents of twins with atopic dermatitis | 592 like-sexed twin pairs age 7 | 3% (95% CI 1, 5) those born between 1960 and 1964 10% (95% CI 7, 14) those born between 1970 and 1974 (up to and including age 7) | |||||
| Taylor et al (14) 1984 | 3 cohort studies in Britain. Included all children born within a (different) specified 7 day period in 1946, 1958 and 1970 | Structured interview in home by health visitor (parental recall) | 4624 children aged 6 (1946 cohort) 14498 children aged 7 (1958 cohort) 12982 children aged 5 (1970 cohort) | Cumulative incidence rates 5.1% (1946 cohort) 7.3% (1958 cohort) 12.2% (1970 cohort) | |||||
| Ninan TK and Russel G (15) 1992 | Aberdeen, Scotland | Questionnaires Based on parental recall | 2510 children aged 8–13 in 1964 (91.5% response rate) 3403 children aged 8–13 in 1989 (85% response rate) | 5.3% in 1964 12% in 1989 | |||||
| Poysa et al (17) 1991 | Community-based study age and sex matched samples taken from three areas - south, east and north Finland | parental interviews | Parents of 3649 children | 1.70% | |||||
| Williams HC et al(18) 1994 | National Child Development Study (England, Wales, Scotland) All children born from 3–9 March 1958 inclusive | comparison of structured questionnaire (parental reports) and visible eczema determined by medical officers during physical examination | 8279 children born 3–9 March 1958. Followed up at ages 7, 11 and 16. (87% response rate) | Prevalence according to medical officers examination at ages 7, 11 and 16 according to social class (I) 6.7% (95% CI 4.6, 9.4) (II) 6.8% (95% CI 5.5, 8.4) (IIINM) 5.8% (95% CI 4.3, 7.6) (IIIM) 5.3% (95% CI 4.6, 6.1) (IV) 3.7% (95% CI 2.8, 4.8) (V) 5.4% (95% CI 3.5, 7.9) (p< 0.001) | Cumulative incidence (by age 16) according to social class (I) 13.1% (95% CI 10.0, 16.2) (II) 12.4% (95% CI 10.5, 14.2) (IIINM) 12.5% (95% CI 10.4, 14.8) (IIIM) 11.1% (95% CI 10.1, 12.1) (IV) 8.6% (95% CI 7.2, 10.2) (V) 8.8% (95% CI 6.4, 11.9) (p<0.001) | ||||
| Butland BKet al (20) 1997 | England, Scotland and Wales. National Child Development Study (1958 cohort) All children born from 3–9 March inclusive. British Cohort Study (1970 cohort) All children born from 5–11 April inclusive | Prospective birth cohort studies. Structured interviews | 11195 (62%) at age 16 from 1958 cohort. 9387 (54%) at age 16 from 1970 cohort | Prevalence 3.1% (1958 cohort) 6.4% (1970 cohort) (prevalence ratio 2.04 (95% CI 1.79, 2.32)) | |||||
| Williams HCet al (21) 1995 | London - 3 junior schools | Cross sectional prevalence survey. Presence of atopic dermatitis determined by (1) parental recall (2) dermatologists examination (3) examination by independent observer | 693 junior school children | Prevalence (assessed by dermatologist) 16.3% in black Caribbean children 8.7% in white children (increased risk also present when assessed by parental recall and independent observer) | |||||
| Neame RL et al (24) 1995 | (1) Obligatory routine surveillance clinics required to attend at 6 weeks and 8, 18 and 42 months. All parents asked at 18 and 42 month assessment over specified time period. (2) Social services day nurseries in Leicester | Comparison of (1) parental recall (2) GP records (3) examination by trained observer for estimation of prevalences | 322 children aged 1–4 255 form surveillance clinics (98.5% response rate) 67 from day nurseries (38.1% response rate) | (3) examination by trained observer 14% (95% CI 10, 18) (point prevalence) | (1) parental recall 27% (95% CI 22, 32) (cumulative incidence - “ever had”) (2) GP records 32% (95% CI 28, 36) (cumulative incidence - “ever had”) | ||||