Background

Lower socioeconomic position usually portends worse health outcomes, but multiple studies have found that atopic dermatitis is associated with higher socioeconomic position. The nature of this relationship remains unclear.

Objective

To systematically review the literature on socioeconomic position and atopic dermatitis and determine whether the association varies by patient or study characteristics.

Methods

A literature search was conducted in the PubMed and Embase databases. Individual-level studies addressing the association between all measures of socioeconomic position and the prevalence or incidence of atopic dermatitis were eligible for inclusion. Two independent reviewers screened all texts and extracted all data for qualitative synthesis.

Results

Eighty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Of the 88 studies, 42% (37) found a positive association between atopic dermatitis and socioeconomic position, 15% (13) found a negative association, and 43% (38) found a null or inconsistent association. Studies conducted in Europe, among children, and based on self-report of eczema were more likely to find a positive association with socioeconomic position.

Limitations

Studies varied both in terms of the measurement of socioeconomic position and the definition of atopic dermatitis, limiting quantitative synthesis.

Conclusion

The evidence of a positive association between atopic dermatitis and socioeconomic position is not consistent.