Atopic dermatitis in childhood and pubertal development: A nationwide cohort study

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) might delay puberty, but research is lacking. Objective: To investigate the association between AD and puberty. Methods: A subcohort within the Danish National Birth Cohort includes children born between 2000 and 2003, with mothers reporting doctor-diagnosed AD at 6 months, 18 months, and 7 years old. The National Patient Registry identified hospital-diagnosed AD. From 11 years, the children give half-yearly information on pubertal development. We estimated the mean age difference in months at attaining Tanner stages 1 to 5 and the development of axillary hair, acne, first ejaculation, voice break, and age at menarche, using an interval-censored regression model. Results: In total, 15,534 children participated, 21.5% had self-reported doctor-diagnosed AD and 0.7% had hospital-diagnosed AD. For girls with self-reported doctor-diagnosed AD, the average age difference at reaching all pubertal milestones was 0.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI]:- 0.8; 0.8), and for hospital- diagnosed AD, it was- 0.3 months (95% CI:- 5.4; 4.8). For boys, the average age difference was 0.1 months (95% CI:- 0.6; 0.9) and- 0.3 months (95% CI:- 3.6; 3.0), respectively. Limitations: No information on treatment was available. Missing data on covariates (<5%) were not addressed. Conclusion: No association was found between AD and puberty in either girls or boys.