Association between smoking type and prevalence of atopic dermatitis and asthma in men and women

Aim This study aimed to examine the association between smoking type and the prevalence of atopic dermatitis and asthma in men and women. Background Cases of allergic diseases have been steadily increasing worldwide. Smoking is associated with serious diseases. Only a few studies have assessed the association between smoking and atopic dermatitis and asthma in adults, and gender difference studies are scarce despite a significant difference in smoking rates. Methods We conducted a secondary cross-sectional analysis of 17 886 adults with atopic dermatitis and 17 889 with asthma aged >= 19 years, using raw data from the Fifth Korea national Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010-2012). Results The prevalence of atopic dermatitis in men was not associated with active or passive smoking, whereas asthma prevalence in men was associated with indoor passive smoking exposure at home. We found that atopic dermatitis prevalence in women was associated with current smoking status, whereas asthma prevalence in women was associated with the presence of an indoor daily smoker at home and indoor passive smoking exposure at home. Conclusion Asthmatic adults should be informed of the hazards of passive smoking, and women with atopic dermatitis should in particular be dissuaded from smoking.