Eczema may be a risk factor for fracture, bone and joint injury in adults

Adults with eczema seem to be more likely to experience fracture and bone or joint injury, says a study published in JAMA Dermatology.
Previous research has shown that adults with eczema are at greater risk of sleep problems and some psychological illnesses. But the risk of fracture and other injury-causing limitations has been largely unexplored until now.
A US team looked at a sample of 34,500 adults (aged 18 years to 85 years) with a history of eczema over the previous 12 months.
The prevalence of eczema was 7.2% and the prevalence of any injury-causing limitation was 2%. A fracture and bone or joint injury was reported by 1.5% of adults, while other injury-causing limitation occurred in 0.6% of adults.
In adults with eczema, the prevalence of injuries increased initially, peaked at ages 50 to 69 years, and then decreased in people 70 years or older.
Adults with eczema and fatigue, daytime sleepiness or insomnia had higher rates of fracture and bone or joint injury compared to adults with sleep symptoms and no eczema. Adults with both eczema and psychiatric and behavioural disorders also had higher rates of fracture and bone or joint injury compared to those with eczema or psychiatric and behavioural disorders alone.
“Adult eczema is associated with an increased risk of injury, particularly fracture and bone or joint injury, which is only partially related to the presence of sleep symptoms and psychiatric and behavioural disorders,” explain the researchers. “These data suggest that adult eczema is a previously unrecognized risk factor for fracture and other injury, emphasizing the importance of developing safer and more effective clinical interventions for itch and sleep problems in eczema, as well as preventive measures for injury risk reduction in eczema.”

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Image credit: Brit-Knee