Racial and Ethnic Representation in Atopic Dermatitis Clinical Trials

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder afflicting approximately 31.6 million people in the United States, with a disproportionate impact on racial and ethnic minorities who often experience greater disease severity. This study aims to analyze racial and ethnic representation in recent atopic dermatitis clinical trials. A search on clinicaltrials.gov identified 73 completed AD trials with results available from January 1, 2019, to May 13, 2024, and out of these, 68 trials involving 20,679 patients provided race and ethnicity data. Out of all clinical trial participants, 65.4% identified as White, 17.3% identified as Asian, 13.4% identified as Black or African American, 0.5% identified as American Indian or Alaskan Native, 0.4% identified as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and 1.3% identified as more than one race. Hispanic or Latino participants comprised 10.8% of the clinical trial population. This study highlights an increasing trend in the inclusion of African American/Black and Asian populations in AD clinical trials; however, Hispanic participants remain notably underrepresented despite increased ethnicity reporting. These disparities emphasize the necessity of diverse representation in AD clinical trials to ensure equitable treatment outcomes, especially given the higher disease prevalence in skin of color groups. Achieving equitable representation will improve the generalizability of trial results, enhance treatment access, and reduce health inequities. Greater inclusivity in AD clinical trials is crucial for understanding the safety, efficacy, and side effects of treatments across diverse populations and should be a cornerstone of dermatologic clinical research.