New guidelines released this week by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD)  address comorbidities associated with atopic dermatitis (AD). They cover the burden of AD at the patient- and population-level.

AD is associated with potentially significant impacts on the quality of life or pediatric and adult patients. The guidelines reference accumulating evidence that associated comorbidities increase the burden of the chronic skin disease.

Specifically in adults, comorbidities associated with AD include certain allergic, atopic, immune-mediated conditions, mental health impacts, and bone health effects. Skin infections are also increased among patients with AD. Furthermore, the guidelines cite evidence supporting an association between AD in adults and substance use, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and elements of metabolic syndrome.

Published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD), the guidelines are the first in a four-part series. Additional sections will address topical therapies, phototherapy/systemic interventions, and pediatrics.