Atopic Dermatitis in Denmark: Regional Variation

Authors

  • Kristina Ibler Department of Dermatology, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • Ann Hærskjold Department of Dermatology, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • Jens Olsen EY Parthenon, Frederiksberg, Denmark
  • Lotte Themstrup Department of Dermatology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
  • Maiken Dalager Department of Dermatology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
  • Lone Skov Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Copenhagen University Hospital – Herlev and Gentofte, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • Charlotte G. Mørtz Department of Dermatology and Allergy Centre, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
  • Emilie Balk-Møller Medical Affairs, Sanofi Denmark, Denmark
  • Christian Vestergaard Department of Dermatology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2340/actadv.v106.44122

Keywords:

Atopic Dermatitis, Regional variation, Prevalence

Abstract

Using national registers, this study investigates regional variations in the number of individuals with and treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) in Denmark. AD, a prevalent chronic skin disorder, affects up to 20% of children and 3% of adults globally; yet its epidemiology in Denmark remains unclear. A recent study indicated a lifetime prevalence of 21% among school-aged children in Odense, a medium-sized city in Denmark, highlighting the long-lasting nature of the condition. With advancements in machine learning, researchers can now identify AD cases in both adults and children through healthcare utilization data. While Denmark’s single-payer system aims to provide equitable access to healthcare, factors such as decentralized administration and patient choice can lead to regional variations in the treatment setup. The study spans from 1995 to 2020, revealing an overall identification of 537,001 individuals with AD. Results demonstrate consistent regional variations, with the Central Denmark Region exhibiting the highest recorded rates over 11 out of 14 years. There are also notable differences in advanced treatment rates and hospital consultations among regions. Thus, regional variation was observed, and to reduce unwarranted regional variation it is important to minimize diagnostic uncertainty and provide

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Silverberg JI, Gelfand JM, Margolis DJ, Boguniewicz M, Fonacier L, Grayson MH, et al. Pain is a common and burdensome symptom of atopic dermatitis in United States adults. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2019; 7: 2699–2706. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaip.2019.05.055

Yu SH, Attarian H, Zee P, Silverberg JI. Burden of sleep and fatigue in US adults with atopic dermatitis. Dermatitis 2016; 27: 50–58. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/DER.0000000000000161

Blome C, Radtke MA, Eissing L, Augustin M. Quality of life in patients with atopic dermatitis: disease burden, measurement, and treatment benefit. Am J Clin Dermatol 2016; 17: 163–169. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-015-0171-3

Ali F, Vyas J, Finlay A. Counting the burden: atopic dermatitis and health-related quality of life. Acta Derm Venereol 2020; 100: 330–340. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2340/00015555-3511

Åberg N, Hesselmar B, Åberg B, Eriksson B. Increase of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema in Swedish schoolchildren between 1979 and 1991. Clin Exp Allergy 1995; 25: 815–819. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2222.1995.tb00023.x

Kowalska-Olędzka E, Czarnecka M, Baran A. Epidemiology of atopic dermatitis in Europe. J Drug Assess 2019; 8: 126–128. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21556660.2019.1619570

Sibbald C, Drucker AM. Patient burden of atopic dermatitis. Dermatol Clin 2017; 35: 303–316. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.det.2017.02.004

Mortz CG, Lauritsen JM, Bindslev-Jensen C, Andersen KE. Prevalence of atopic dermatitis, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and hand and contact dermatitis in adolescents. The Odense Adolescence Cohort Study on Atopic Diseases and Dermatitis. Br J Dermatol 2001; 144: 523–532. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2133.2001.04078.x

Mortz CG, Andersen KE, Dellgren C, Barington T, Bindslev-Jensen C. Atopic dermatitis from adolescence to adulthood in the TOACS cohort: prevalence, persistence and comorbidities. Allergy 2015; 70: 836–845. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/all.12619

Henriksen L, Simonsen J, Haerskjold A, Linder M, Kieler H, Thomsen SF, et al. Incidence rates of atopic dermatitis, asthma, and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in Danish and Swedish children. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2015; 136: 360–366. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2015.02.003

Liljendahl MS, Ibler K, Vestergaard C, Skov L, Jain P, Rudolfsen JH. Identifying mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis using a generic machine learning approach: a Danish National Health Register Study. Acta Derm Venereol 2025; 105: adv42250. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2340/actadv.v105.42250

Wennberg JE. Unwarranted variations in healthcare delivery: implications for academic medical centres. BMJ 2002; 325: 961–964. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.325.7370.961

Birkmeyer JD, Reames BN, McCulloch P, Carr AJ, Campbell WB, Wennberg JE. Understanding of regional variation in the use of surgery. Lancet 2013; 382: 1121–1129. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61215-5

Lynge E, Sandegaard JL, Rebolj M. The Danish National Patient Register. Scand J Public Health 2011; 39: 30–33. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1403494811401482

Kildemoes HW, Sørensen HT, Hallas J. The Danish National Prescription Registry. Scand J Public Health 2011; 39: 38–41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1403494810394717

Andersen JS, Olivarius NDF, Krasnik A. The Danish National Health Service Register. Scand J Public Health 2011; 39: 34–37. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1403494810394718

Enthoven AC. Cutting cost without cutting the quality of care. N Engl Journal Med 1978; 298: 1229–1238. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM197806012982204

Islam MK, Kjerstad E. The ambiguous effect of GP competition: the case of hospital admissions. Health Econ 2017; 26: 1483–1504. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hec.3439

Vinge AS, Skov L, Johansen JD, Quaade AS. Atopic dermatitis and hand eczema in Danish adults: a nationwide population-based study. Contact Dermatitis 2025; 92: 21–30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/cod.14691

Weinstein JN, Bronner KK, Morgan TS, Wennberg JE. Trends and geographic variations in major surgery for degenerative diseases of the hip, knee, and spine: is there a roadmap for change? Health Aff (Millwood) 2004; 23: VAR81–VAR89. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.var.81

Downloads

Published

2026-02-10

How to Cite

Ibler, K., Hærskjold, A., Olsen, J., Themstrup, L., Dalager, M., Skov, L., … Vestergaard, C. (2026). Atopic Dermatitis in Denmark: Regional Variation. Acta Dermato-Venereologica, 106, adv44122. https://doi.org/10.2340/actadv.v106.44122

Issue

Vol. 106 (2026)

Section

Articles

Categories

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Kristina Ibler, Ann Hærskjold, Jens Olsen, Lotte Themstrup, Maiken Dalager, Lone Skov, Charlotte G. Mørtz, Emilie Balk-Møller, Christian Vestergaard

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

All digitalized ActaDV contents is available freely online. The Society for Publication of Acta Dermato-Venereologica owns the copyright for all material published until volume 88 (2008) and as from volume 89 (2009) the journal has been published fully Open Access, meaning the authors retain copyright to their work.

Unless otherwise specified, all Open Access articles are published under CC-BY-NC licences, allowing third parties to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format and to remix, transform, and build upon the material for non-commercial purposes, provided proper attribution to the original work.

Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC