Neurodermatitis occurs more frequently in MV
Over the past ten years, there has been an increase in diagnosed cases of the skin disease neurodermatitis in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The number of sufferers in the north-east rose by 18 percent between 2012 and 2022, according to the health insurance company Barmer. This was the result of a standardized extrapolation based on the Barmer insurance figures.
According to the calculations, there were 85,000 sufferers in 2022, compared to 72,000 in 2012. Barmer had evaluated outpatient neurodermatitis diagnoses for this purpose.
"Atopic dermatitis flare-ups occur in autumn in particular, as the cool outside temperatures and dry heating air are particularly hard on the skin," said Henning Kutzbach, Barmer's regional managing director for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Dermatologists can then best assess whether it is necessary to treat neurodermatitis with prescription products or whether conventional creams can be used.
Children are particularly frequently affected by atopic dermatitis. In adults, symptom-free phases are more common, even if the disease cannot be cured. According to the data, an average of 5.8 percent of women and 4.6 percent of men in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern suffered from the disease in 2022. A common symptom is an itchy skin rash. Factors such as smoking, environmental pollution and excessive hygiene could exacerbate the symptoms.
According to Barmer, there are currently 267,000 insured persons in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. This corresponds to just under 17 percent of the state's population.
The increase in neurodermatitis cases in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has raised concerns about the broader health implications, as statistics from Barmer show that diseases affecting the skin are on the rise. Furthermore, it's worth noting that while the prevalence of neurodermatitis varies among different age groups, recent statistics indicate that a significant number of adults also suffer from this condition.
Source: www.dpa.com
