OBJECTIVES: To identify the variety of AD characteristics by ethnicity.

METHODS: A targeted literature review (TLR) among patients with AD was performed. The Medline database via the OVID interface was exhaustively searched. Abstracts and full texts were screened (PICOS criteria), with extractions performed and quality checked.

RESULTS: Overall, 37 publications reporting data on AD severity, signs and symptoms, and affected body parts from 16 countries were included.

The total mean SCORAD score was the lowest among Korean AD patients (range: 13.4-23) comparing Chinese, Russian and Polish patients (59, 48.8, and 45.6, respectively). The median score in US AD patients was 39.7. Mild AD cases ranged from 16.4-41.1% in Chinese and Turkish populations to 25.3-35.3% among European patients; and was comparable to severe patients (range in China and Turkey: 32.5-53.4%, vs European: 18.3-43.4%).

Fossa cubitalis, neck, and waist were the top three affected body parts in Chinese adult AD (26.3-37.6% of patients), with upper extremity, face and neck affected Danish adults (93.2% and 92.3% of cases, respectively), and the head and neck (32.1% ) and upper limbs (78.8%) in AD-controlled US cases. AD affected the face and eyelids in Chinese children (51.3% and 21.8%, respectively) and the face (81.5-84.8%) and upper and lower extremities (74.8-90.4%) in Danish children.

Flares (up to 81.3% of US patients), papules (73.1% of Chinese; 70% of US), itch/pruritus (70% of Iranian, 94% of Australian, 98.6% of Chinese, and up to 100% of US AD cases), and xerosis (64% in Iranian; 81% in US and Australian patients) were the most commonly reported AD symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS: Ethnic/genetic differences may influence varied AD characteristics. Studies are warranted to investigate differences in treatment effect in AD patients of different ethnicities.