Investigators have discovered that Black pediatric patients with eczema—despite more frequently being diagnosed with asthma, a condition often preceded by atopic dermatitis—may be less likely to receive follow-up care from an allergist than White pediatric patients, according to an article published in HealthDay. Additionally, the progression from atopic dermatitis to asthma—known as the “atopic march”—is not as researched in Black pediatric patients as it is in White pediatric patients. In research that will be presented at an upcoming meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, investigators looked at data from 728 Black patients and 246 White patients with eczema aged 0 to 18 years and found that 31% of Black patients and 10% of White patients also had an asthma comorbidity. However, only 47% of the Black patients with both conditions were seen by an allergist compared with 69% of the White patients. Further, the Black patients were less likely to receive allergen testing to determine their eczema and asthma triggers. The investigators concluded that more studies are needed to identify and eliminate the factors contributing to health-care disparities among pediatric patients with both eczema and asthma.
May 25, 2023