BACKGROUND

Previous studies have found conflicting results about the association of atopic dermatitis (AD) with hypertension.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether AD and AD severity are associated with hypertension.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed of published studies in Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and GREAT (Global Resource for EczemA Trials) databases. At least two reviewers conducted title/abstract, full-text review and data extraction. Quality of evidence was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

RESULTS

Fifty-one studies met the inclusion criteria and 19 had sufficient data for meta-analysis. AD was associated with higher odds of hypertension compared with healthy controls [increased in nine of 16 studies; pooled prevalence 16·4% vs. 13·8%; random-effects regression, pooled unadjusted odds ratio (OR) 1·16, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·04-1·30], but lower odds of hypertension compared with psoriasis [decreased in five of eight studies; 15·4% vs. 24·8% (OR 0·53, 95% CI 0·37-0·76)]. In particular, moderate-to-severe AD was associated with hypertension compared with healthy controls [increased in four of six studies; 24·9% vs. 14·7% (OR 2·33, 95% CI 1·10-4·94)]. Hypertension was commonly reported as an adverse event secondary to AD treatments, particularly systemic ciclosporin A. Limitations include lack of longitudinal studies or individual-level data, and potential confounding.

CONCLUSIONS

AD, particularly moderate-to-severe disease, was associated with increased hypertension compared with healthy controls, but with lower odds than for psoriasis.