RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Sociodemographic characteristics and emergency department visits and inpatient hospitalizations for atopic dermatitis in Ontario: a cross-sectional study JF CMAJ Open JO CMAJ FD Canadian Medical Association SP E491 OP E499 DO 10.9778/cmajo.20210194 VO 10 IS 2 A1 Aaron M. Drucker A1 Li Bai A1 Lihi Eder A1 An-Wen Chan A1 Elena Pope A1 Karen Tu A1 Liisa Jaakkimainen YR 2022 UL http://www.cmajopen.ca/content/10/2/E491.abstract AB Background Some jurisdictions experience sociodemographic disparities in atopic dermatitis care, including emergency department visits, but data from Canada are limited. Our objectives were to estimate the prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Ontario and to identify sociodemographic factors associated with emergency department visits and hospitalizations for this condition.Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of patients in the Electronic Medical Record Primary Care database linked with administrative health data for Ontario, Canada. We estimated period prevalence and health service utilization for atopic dermatitis from 2005 to 2015. We used multivariable log-binomial regression to calculate adjusted risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between local dermatologist density and the proportion of emergency department visits and hospitalizations for atopic dermatitis.Results Among 249 984 patients, we identified 7812 with atopic dermatitis (period prevalence 2005–2015: 3.1%). Almost all physician visits for atopic dermatitis were to primary care physicians (> 99%). For every additional dermatologist per 100 000 population, the proportions of emergency department visits and hospitalizations for atopic dermatitis increased by 29% (RR 1.29, 95% CI 1.05–1.57). This relationship occurred in and around Toronto but was not consistent across the province.Interpretation In Ontario, higher dermatologist density was not associated with lower emergency department utilization and hospitalization for atopic dermatitis; the association varied in different locales with similar dermatologist densities. Strategies to improve access to care for atopic dermatitis should be tailored to local contexts.