Impact of constipation on atopic dermatitis: A nationwide
population-based cohort study in Taiwan
Abstract
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the chronic relapsing inflammatory skin
disorder that affects both in childhood and adulthood. Mounting evidence
indicates that gut dysbiosis contributes to AD via the gut-skin axis.
Constipation could result in alteration of the gut microflora. The
clinical impact of constipation on AD has not been researched.
Therefore, we aim to assess the risk of AD in constipated patients by
the longitudinal nationwide population-based cohort study. We collected
87015 people with constipation and 87015 patients without constipation
between 1999 and 2013 from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database,
which is the subset of Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research
Database. Propensity score analysis was administrated to match age,
gender, comorbidities, and medications at a ratio of 1:1. Multiple Cox
regression analysis was utilized to evaluate the adjusted hazard ratio
of AD. In addition, sensitivity tests and a stratified analysis were
conducted. The incidence of AD was 4.7 per 1,000 person-years in the
constipation group, which was higher than the rate of 2.2 per 1,000
person-years observed in the non-constipation group. After adjustment
for age, gender, comorbidities, corticosteroids, and antihistamine,
people with constipation had a 2.11-fold greater risk of AD compared to
those without constipation (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 2.11 (95%
C.I. 1.98-2.24). In subgroup analyses, people aged 12-19 years had a
2.34-fold higher risk of AD in the constipation cohort (aHR; 95% CI,
1.84-2.98). Moreover, people with constipation had a higher likelihood
of AD, regardless of gender, and with or without comorbidities, as well
as the usage of corticosteroids, and antihistamines. Constipation is
connected with a significantly risk factor of AD. Clinicians should be
careful of the possibility of AD in people with constipation. Further
study is warranted to investigate the possible pathological mechanisms
of underlying this relationship.