Evidence mapPaperPMID 42221672Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in public health2026

Environmental exposures and atopic dermatitis: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Sijia Chen, Shipeng Zhang, Wenjing Jiang, Rui Zhou, Qingjia Gu

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Sijia Chen *School of Medical and Life Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Shipeng Zhang *School of Medical and Life Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Wenjing JiangDepartment of ENT, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
Rui ZhouSchool of Medical and Life Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Qingjia GuDepartment of ENT, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory skin disorder with a substantial global burden. Although multiple studies have investigated the impact of environmental exposures on AD, a comprehensive review integrating children, adults, and mixed-age populations is lacking. This study aimed to synthesise current evidence on environmental risk factors for AD and examine age-specific susceptibility. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science up to March 2026 for systematic reviews and meta-analyses on environmental exposures and AD risk. Exposures were categorised as: microbe- and immune-related factors (antibiotics and helminth infections), environmental pollution and chemicals (air pollution, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), heavy metals, pesticides), and lifestyle or residential factors (active and passive smoking, pet exposure, urban environment, light at night, indoor fuel use). Eligible studies reported pooled effect estimates including odds ratios (ORs), relative risks (RRs), or hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), or clear directional associations. Data extraction prioritised fully adjusted estimates, dose-response relationships, and age-stratified findings. Methodological quality was assessed using A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2). Evidence synthesis focused on effect direction, statistical significance, heterogeneity (I Results: Twenty systematic reviews and meta-analyses were included. In children, antibiotic exposure and both active and passive smoking were consistently associated with increased AD risk, while prenatal exposure to PM₂.₅ and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) also elevated risk. In adults, smoking and air pollution showed stable positive associations. In mixed-age populations, PM₁₀ exposure and urban residence were linked to higher AD risk. Evidence for other exposures, including PFAS, heavy metals, pesticides, helminth infection, pet exposure, light at night, and indoor fuel use, remained limited or inconsistent. Conclusion: Antibiotic exposure, smoking, and air pollution are the most robust environmental risk factors for AD across age groups, whereas other exposures require further investigation. Targeted interventions and environmental management may contribute to AD prevention and control.

Indexed as

Dermatitis, AtopicEnvironmental ExposureHumansMeta-Analysis as TopicRisk FactorsSystematic Reviews as Topicair pollutionatopic dermatitisenvironmental exposuremeta-analysissmokingsystematic review

Identifiers

PMID42221672
PMCPMC13219279

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.