Is Chronic Hand Eczema More Common Than We Think?

TOPLINE:

According to a large multinational study, chronic hand eczema (CHE) annually affects 4.7% of adults across six countries, with higher rates among women, urban residents, and employed individuals. The prevalence peaks at 6.5% in those aged 30-39 years and varies geographically from 3.5% in Germany to 6.4% in the United Kingdom.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a multinational population-based online study between July and October 2023 that involved 60,131 participants across Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
• The study assessed self-reported physician-diagnosed CHE, defined as hand eczema continuing for at least 3 months or two or more flares in the past 12 months.
• Participants who met the criteria for CHE and had not participated in clinical trials within 12 months completed questionnaires about symptoms, health-related quality of life, and treatments.
• The analysis calculated annual prevalence by determining the ratio of participants in each country who met the criteria for CHE to the total respondents who completed the screening questionnaires.

TAKEAWAY:

• Overall, 2847 participants (mean age, 41.1 years) reported physician-diagnosed CHE, yielding an annual prevalence of 4.7%. This annual prevalence varied significantly across countries, ranging from 3.5% in Germany to 6.4% in the United Kingdom.
• Women showed a higher prevalence of CHE than men (5.6% vs 3.8%; P
• Age-related prevalence demonstrated significant variation (P
• Employment status and urbanisation significantly influenced prevalence, with employed individuals showing a higher prevalence than those who were unemployed (5.3% vs 3.3%; P P

IN PRACTICE:

“In conclusion, this large multinational study suggests an overall CHE prevalence of 4.7 % in the general population. CHE is particularly prevalent among females, individuals in their thirties, those employed, and those living in urban areas,” the authors wrote.

SOURCE:

The study was led by Christian Apfelbacher, Institute of Social Medicine and Health Systems Research, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany. It was published online on January 11, 2025, in British Journal of Dermatology.

LIMITATIONS:

The study’s reliance on self-reporting introduced potential recall bias and inaccurate data reporting. The quota sampling method employed may have led to self-selection and non-response biases. The online-only accessibility of the survey potentially excluded individuals with limited computer access or digital literacy. Additionally, participants may have had difficulty distinguishing between CHE and other dermatological conditions, possibly resulting in prevalence overestimation.

DISCLOSURES:

LEO Pharma provided funding for this study. Two authors reported being employees and shareholders in LEO pharma. Several authors declared having ties with various sources, including LEO pharma.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.