A LARGE population-based study has found that atopic dermatitis (AD) does not meaningfully impair academic performance in school-aged children, offering reassurance to families, teachers, and clinicians.
Large Cohort Study Examines Atopic Dermatitis and School Outcomes
The study analysed data from two parallel cohort studies in Denmark and England, encompassing a combined total of 782,837 children. Researchers aimed to determine whether AD, commonly associated with sleep disturbance, comorbidities, and psychosocial stress, affects educational outcomes, and whether this varies by disease severity or socioeconomic background.
In the Danish cohort (n=776,214), children were followed from birth through national registries until approximately age 16. Among these, 10,259 had a hospital diagnosis of AD before age 13. The prevalence of nonpassing grades was slightly higher in children with AD compared to those without (12.0% vs 11.2%), but the difference was minimal after adjustment (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] 1.06). Mean academic scores were also marginally lower (−0.06 points), suggesting no clinically meaningful difference. However, children with active AD showed a modestly higher risk of nonpassing grades (aPR 1.19). Analyses of exposure-discordant siblings produced similar findings, indicating limited influence from shared family factors.
In contrast, the smaller English cohort (n=6,623), drawn from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, showed slightly better academic outcomes among children with AD. Nonpassing grades were less common in those with AD (37.7% vs 47.4%; aPR 0.88), and mean performance scores were higher. This apparent advantage was largely driven by children with moderate but improving or intermittently active disease, while those with mild or severe persistent AD performed similarly to unaffected peers.
Findings Provide Reassurance for Families, Teachers, and Clinicians
Across both cohorts, the study found no consistent evidence that disease phenotype or socioeconomic background significantly modified the relationship between AD and academic performance.
The authors conclude that AD is unlikely to have a meaningful negative impact on academic achievement in adolescence. These findings challenge assumptions about the broader educational burden of the condition and provide important reassurance for those managing AD during childhood.
Reference
Iskandar RJ et al. Atopic Dermatitis and Academic Performance. JAMA Dermatol. 2026; DOI: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2026.0425
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