SAN DIEGO – A new study finds that primary diagnoses of atopic dermatitis (AD) are made hundreds of thousands of times in United States emergency departments each year.
The numbers appear to be rising along with costs, researchers reported, and there are signs of disparities, with poorer people more likely to have an ED visit with a primary diagnosis of AD. The study was presented in a poster at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Dr. Jonathan Silverberg
He and his coauthor, Lauren Kwa, also with the department of dermatology at Northwestern, conducted the analysis to better understand the role of AD in emergency care. “Many AD patients experience severe, unpredictable flares and worsening chronic disease that warrant urgent treatment,” Dr. Silverberg said. “However, patients typically don’t have instant access to outpatient dermatological care and may be forced to turn to the urgent care setting.”