Study finds higher risk of heart disease, stroke in people with the skin condition
WebMD News from HealthDay
By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, Jan. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Adults with eczema -- a chronic, itchy skin disease that often starts in childhood -- may also have an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, according to a new study.
This increased risk may be the result of bad lifestyle habits or the disease itself.
"Eczema is not just skin deep," said lead researcher Dr. Jonathan Silverberg, an assistant professor of dermatology at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. "It impacts all aspects of patients' lives and may worsen their heart-health," he said.
The researchers found that people with eczema smoke and drink more, are more likely to be obese and are less likely to exercise than adults who don't have the disease.
The findings also suggest that eczema itself may increase the risk for heart disease and stroke, possibly from the effects of chronic inflammation, he said.
"It was intriguing that eczema was associated with these disorders even after controlling for smoking, alcohol consumption and physical activity," Silverberg added.
It's important to note, however, that this study only found an association between eczema and a higher risk of other health conditions. The study wasn't designed to tease out whether or not having eczema can actually cause other health problems.
Having eczema may take a psychological toll, too, Silverberg pointed out. Since eczema often starts in early childhood, it can affect self-esteem and identity, he said. And those factors may influence lifestyle habits.
The skin condition can also make it harder to exercise, because heat and sweat make the itching worse, Silverberg said.
The study was published in a recent issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
For the study, Silverberg's team collected data on more than 61,000 adults aged 18 to 85. These adults were part of the 2010 and 2012 U.S. National Health Interview Surveys.
The researchers found that people with eczema were 54 percent more likely to be severely obese than those without the skin condition. People with eczema were also 48 percent more likely to have high blood pressure. They were also about one-third more likely to have high cholesterol than those without eczema, the study noted.
source : Eczema Linked to Other Health Problems
