Association between Residential Redlining and Neighborhood Characteristics and Atopic Dermatitis in a National Birth Cohort Consortium

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

7-1-2026

Publication Title

J Am Acad Dermatol

Keywords

Dermatology

Abstract

Rationale: Children living in historically redlined neighborhoods are at increased risk for asthma, but whether residing in these neighborhoods is associated with atopic dermatitis (AD) is unknown. Methods: Birth addresses from the Children's Allergy & Asthma Data Repository were geocoded and their census tracts overlaid with digitized redlining maps of the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation. Census tracts were categorized into grades A (“Best”), B (“Still Desirable”), C (“Definitely Declining”), or D (“Hazardous”). AD was defined by caregiver-reported physician diagnosis at ages 1 and 5. AD phenotypes throughout childhood were also investigated. Unadjusted associations between redlining category and AD were estimated using logistic regression with random cohort effects, along with multiple imputation. Results: After adjusting for sex, race, ethnicity, parental history of AD, maternal education, and maternal smoking, children born in grade D neighborhoods had 1.44 times higher odds of 1-year AD, relative to children born in A+B grade neighborhoods (n=5237, OR (95% CI) = 1.44 (1.03, 2.00); p = 0.031). In the adjusted model, there was no association with childhood opportunity index, social vulnerability index, unemployment, education, low income or household income of the neighborhood and AD. No associations were observed for 5-year AD. For AD phenotype, children with mixed grade assignment had 3.08 times higher odds of early AD with potential reoccurrence vs. A+B (OR (95% CI) = 3.08 (1.09, 8.73); p = 0.034). Conclusions: The historical, racist practice of redlining, regardless of the current neighborhood characteristics, associates with present day risk of early AD.

Volume

95

Issue

1

First Page

AB62

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