Key Points Question Do children with atopic dermatitis experience impaired sleep duration and sleep quality throughout childhood, and do disease severity and activity affect their sleep? Findings In this longitudinal cohort study of 13 988 children, atopic dermatitis was statistically significantly associated with impaired sleep quality but not sleep duration throughout childhood. Sleep impairment was more common among children with more severe disease and with comorbid asthma or allergic rhinitis, and the risk remained elevated even among children with mild and inactive atopic dermatitis. Meaning These findings suggest that clinicians should consider sleep quality among all children with atopic dermatitis, especially those with comorbid asthma or allergic rhinitis and severe disease; it appears interventions to improve sleep quality are needed for this population.

This longitudinal cohort study analyzes data collected across 11 years to assess the association between the presence and severity of atopic dermatitis in children and maternal sleep disturbance among a population-based UK cohort of mother-child pairs.