Neighborhood Socioeconomic Characteristics and Skin Barrier Disruption at Age One

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

2-1-2025

Publication Title

J Allergy Clin Immunol

Abstract

Rationale: Neighborhood characteristics influence childhood allergic diseases, but their relationship to epidermal barrier disruption is unknown. We sought to determine the relationship between neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) among young children. Methods: Children enrolled in the Childhood Allergies and the NeOnatal Environment (CANOE) birth cohort were included. TEWL was measured at age one year, and participants’ address at birth was geocoded and linked to an index of neighborhood deprivation (range 0-1, higher values indicate increased deprivation) and US Census tract data including the percent of the population: 1) in poverty, 2) without health insurance, 3) having less than high school education, and 4) with vacant housing. The association between each neighborhood SES indicator and TEWL was determined using separate linear regression models adjusting for child’s sex, parental-reported race, and study location. Results: Among 252 CANOE participants at age 1 (55% female; 68% White, 19% Black, 13% other race), the average (SD) TEWL measurement was 12.7 (12.4) g/m 2 /h. Overall neighborhood deprivation index (β = 1.5, 95% CI 0.0 – 3.1 per 0.1 increase ), poverty (β = 2.5, 95% CI 0.8 – 4.2 per 10% increase), and vacant housing (β = 2.3, 95% CI 0.1 – 4.6 per 10% increase ) were significantly and positively associated with increased TEWL, while health insurance status and education were not. Conclusions: Lower neighborhood SES, rather than health insurance or parental factors, is associated with increased TEWL in young children. Addressing neighborhood deprivation could improve skin barrier function, and possibly reduce associated atopic disease.

Volume

155

Issue

2

First Page

AB181

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