Title : Association of deranged lipid profile with severity of atopic dermatitis in children.
Abstract:
Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disease with increasing prevalence in children. Recent studies suggest a possible link between systemic metabolic abnormalities like dyslipidemia and the severity of AD, but data in pediatric populations, particularly from developing countries, remain scarce.
Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of dyslipidemia in children with atopic dermatitis and evaluate the association between dyslipidemia and disease severity using the SCORAD index.
Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Dermatology, SMGS Hospital, Government Medical College, Jammu, from November 2022 to October 2023. A total of 100 children aged ≤12 years with clinically diagnosed atopic dermatitis based on Hanifin and Rajka criteria were enrolled. Each child underwent detailed clinical evaluation, including SCORAD scoring to assess disease severity. Fasting venous samples were collected to analyze serum lipid profile parameters—total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Dyslipidemia was defined using age-appropriate cut-off values. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 25. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant.
Results: Among the 100 participants, 70% were under 5 years of age. Males slightly outnumbered females (55% vs. 45%). Based on SCORAD scoring, 58% had mild, 39% moderate, and 3% severe AD.
Dyslipidemia was highly prevalent:
•Raised TC in 42%
•Raised TG in 77%
•Elevated LDL in 35%
•Decreased HDL in 31%
A statistically significant association was observed between disease severity and lipid parameters. The mean values of lipid profile increased progressively with SCORAD severity:
•Total Cholesterol: 142.7 (mild), 182.3 (moderate), 267.0 mg/dL (severe)
•Triglycerides: 88.6, 132.9, 177.3 mg/dL
•LDL: 83.2, 109.0, 155.6 mg/dL
•HDL: 46.8, 49.5, 73.3 mg/dL
Conclusion: This study demonstrates a strong correlation between dyslipidemia and the severity of atopic dermatitis in children. Elevated levels of TC, TG, and LDL were significantly associated with more severe disease. These findings support the hypothesis that AD may have systemic inflammatory components and underscore the importance of lipid monitoring in pediatric atopic dermatitis patients. Early identification and management of dyslipidemia may not only help control its severity but also prevent long-term cardiovascular complications.
Keywords: Atopic dermatitis, children, dyslipidemia, SCORAD, lipid profile, chronic inflammation
