Journal article
Medical, psychological and socio-economic implications of chronic hand eczema: a cross-sectional study.
- Cazzaniga S Department of Dermatology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.
- Ballmer-Weber BK Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Gräni N Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Spring P Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Lausanne CHUV, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Bircher A Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
- Anliker M Department of Dermatology, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
- Sonntag AK Department of Dermatology, Cantonal Hospital Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland.
- Piletta P Department of Dermatology, Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), Geneva, Switzerland.
- Huber C Department of Dermatology, Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), Geneva, Switzerland.
- Borradori L Department of Dermatology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.
- Diepgen T Department of Clinical Social Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Dermatology, University Hospital, Ruprecht Karls University, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Apfelbacher C Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
- Simon D Department of Dermatology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.
- 2015-11-24
Published in:
- Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV. - 2016
Adult
Cross-Sectional Studies
Eczema
Female
Hand Dermatoses
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Quality of Life
Socioeconomic Factors
English
BACKGROUND
Hand eczema (HE) is a common skin disease with major medical psychological and socio-economic implications. Onset and prognosis of HE are determined by individual as well as environmental factors. So far, most epidemiological data on HE have been reported from Scandinavian and recently German studies.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the characteristics and medical care of patients with chronic HE (CHE) in Switzerland, and identify risk factors.
METHODS
In this cross-sectional study, data from patients with chronic HE were obtained by means of medical history, dermatological examination and patient questionnaires. Multiple logistic regression analysis was applied to identify risk factors for high severity and dermatology life quality index (DLQI).
RESULTS
In seven dermatology departments, 199 patients (mean age 40.4 years, 50.8% female) with CHE (mean duration 6.6 years) were enrolled. Moderate to severe HE was reported by 70.9% of patients, and was associated with age <30 or >50 years, localization of lesions and pruritus. Because of the CHE, 37.3% of patients were on sick leave over the past 12 months, 14.8% had changed or lost their job. Practically all patients applied topical therapy, 21% were treated with alitretinoin, and 21% with psoralen plus UVA light (PUVA). The effects on the health-related quality of life was moderate to large in 33.7% and 39.4% of CHE patients, respectively. Factors associated with a high impact on DLQI (mean 9.7 ± 5.8) were female sex, lesions on back of the hands and pruritus as well as mechanical skin irritation and wearing gloves.
CONCLUSION
In agreement with recent studies, the Swiss data demonstrate the high impact of CHE on medical well-being, patient quality of life and work ability. As it is associated with an intense use of health care services, high rate of sick leave, job loss and change, CHE may cause a high socio-economic burden.
Hand eczema (HE) is a common skin disease with major medical psychological and socio-economic implications. Onset and prognosis of HE are determined by individual as well as environmental factors. So far, most epidemiological data on HE have been reported from Scandinavian and recently German studies.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the characteristics and medical care of patients with chronic HE (CHE) in Switzerland, and identify risk factors.
METHODS
In this cross-sectional study, data from patients with chronic HE were obtained by means of medical history, dermatological examination and patient questionnaires. Multiple logistic regression analysis was applied to identify risk factors for high severity and dermatology life quality index (DLQI).
RESULTS
In seven dermatology departments, 199 patients (mean age 40.4 years, 50.8% female) with CHE (mean duration 6.6 years) were enrolled. Moderate to severe HE was reported by 70.9% of patients, and was associated with age <30 or >50 years, localization of lesions and pruritus. Because of the CHE, 37.3% of patients were on sick leave over the past 12 months, 14.8% had changed or lost their job. Practically all patients applied topical therapy, 21% were treated with alitretinoin, and 21% with psoralen plus UVA light (PUVA). The effects on the health-related quality of life was moderate to large in 33.7% and 39.4% of CHE patients, respectively. Factors associated with a high impact on DLQI (mean 9.7 ± 5.8) were female sex, lesions on back of the hands and pruritus as well as mechanical skin irritation and wearing gloves.
CONCLUSION
In agreement with recent studies, the Swiss data demonstrate the high impact of CHE on medical well-being, patient quality of life and work ability. As it is associated with an intense use of health care services, high rate of sick leave, job loss and change, CHE may cause a high socio-economic burden.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- closed
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1111/jdv.13479
- PMID 26592977
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/285427
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