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Atopic dermatitis is associated with abnormal stool form: a population-based cross-sectional study in college students

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Abstract

Background

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder. Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) is a widely used stool scoring method that could indirectly reflect intestinal function.

Objectives

To evaluate the associations of AD with BSFS.

Methods

This was a population-based cross-sectional study of freshmen in five universities of China. AD diagnosis was performed by dermatologists according to the guideline from the American Academy of Dermatology. BSFS and covariates were collected through an online questionnaire survey. Chronic itch scores were assessed by the numeric rating scales and grouped into quartiles (Q). Mixed logistic regression models were used. Subgroup analysis was conducted by covariates. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

The prevalence of hard stools and loose stools were 8.9% and 7.6%, respectively (20,049 participants). After adjusting covariates, AD was significantly associated with hard stools (OR = 1.38, P < 0.001) and loose stools (OR = 1.24, P = 0.037). In subgroup analysis of hard stool, a stronger effect was observed in intake of milk (> 3 days/week), yogurt (> 3 days/week), pork (< 1 day/week), and higher itch scores (Q4).

Conclusion

This study found the relationship between AD and abnormal stool forms, and the association with hard stools might be modified by dietary factor.

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Data availability

The datasets are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all the investigators who participated in the field survey and data collection.

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82204144), Huxiang Youth Talent Program (2022RC1014), and Project of Intelligent Management Software for Multimodal Medical Big Data for New Generation Information Technology, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of People’s Republic of China (TC210804V). The funders did not participate in this study.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Juan Su and Xiaoyu Gu contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China

    Juan Su, Xiaoyu Gu, Ji Li, Xiang Chen, Yi Xiao & Minxue Shen

  2. National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Changsha, China

    Juan Su, Xiaoyu Gu, Xiang Chen & Minxue Shen

  3. Department of Dermatology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

    Juan Tao

  4. Department of Dermatology, People’s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumchi, Xinjiang, China

    Xiaojing Kang

  5. Department of Dermatology, The Affiliated People’s Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China

    Bin Wu

  6. Department of Dermatology, Xiang’an Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China

    Shijun Shan

  7. Department of Dermatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China

    Xiaohui ang

  8. Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China

    Minxue Shen

Authors
  1. Juan Su
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Contributions

JS, and XG drafted the manuscript and analyzed the data. MS, XG, and YX designed the study. MS and XC obtained the funding. YX, JS, JL, JT, XK, BW, SS, XW, and MS participated in the field survey and data collection. All authors critically revised the manuscript, and gave final approval to the version submitted for publication.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Xiang Chen, Yi Xiao or Minxue Shen.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ethical statement

This study was conducted according to the guidelines laid down in the Declaration of Helsinki. All procedures involving study participants were approved by the institutional research ethics boards of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, China (#201709993). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants or their custodians if aged under 18 before the investigation.

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Su, J., Gu, X., Li, J. et al. Atopic dermatitis is associated with abnormal stool form: a population-based cross-sectional study in college students. Arch Dermatol Res 315, 2057–2064 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-023-02567-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-023-02567-9

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