Symptoms of Cognitive Impairment Among Children With Atopic Dermatitis

IMPORTANCE: Previous studies suggest that atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with cognitive impairment in children, but these studies have relied primarily on neurodevelopmental diagnoses (rather than symptoms) as proxy measures of cognitive function. It remains unknown if certain subpopulations of children with AD are at greater risk of cognitive impairment. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of AD with symptoms of cognitive impairment (difficulty in learning or memory) among US children and whether this association varies according to the presence or absence of neurodevelopmental comorbidities (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], developmental delay, or learning disability). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cross-sectional study used 2021 data from the US National Health Interview Survey collected on children aged 17 years or younger without intellectual disability or autism. The presence of AD was based on a parent or adult caregiver’s report indicating either a current diagnosis of AD or a previous medical confirmation of AD by a health care professional. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Difficulty with learning or memory as reported by the child’s caregiver. RESULTS: Among the weighted total of 69 732 807 participants, 9 223 013 (13.2%) had AD. Compared with children without AD, children with AD were more likely to experience difficulties with learning (10.8% [95% CI, 7.8%-15.8%] vs 5.9% [95% CI, 5.1%-6.9%]; P