Abstract

BACKGROUND: data on epidemiological impact and clinical characteristics of chronic hand eczema in Southern Europe are lacking. OBJECTIVES: to estimate prevalence of chronic hand eczema and its different stages of severity and refractoriness to standard therapy among patients accessing Italian dermatological reference centers, and to evaluate socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with each different stage. METHODS: A cross-sectional multicenter study was conducted. Adult hand eczema patients, consecutively accessing 14 centers through a 6-month period, were enrolled. Patients were classified according to disease duration, severity and response to standard therapy with potent topical corticosteroids. Logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate relationship between socio-demographic and clinical data with different stages of eczema. RESULTS: 981 patients participated. Hand eczema was chronic in 83.5% of patients. Among them, 21.3% were severe, 62% of these patients being refractory to standard therapy. Food processing and related works, health professions, craft and related trades works (builders, plumbers, electricians), hairdressers/beauticians and handicraft works were the jobs most frequently associated with having chronic hand eczema. Severe chronic hand eczema was more likely to be among men, older patients and those with lower education. Severe and refractory hand eczema was also more likely among unemployed and patients with allergic rhinitis and/or atopic dermatitis. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic hand eczema is frequent among hand eczema patients accessing dermatology centers. Many patients were severe and refractory to standard therapy. The appropriate identification of hand eczema is a first step necessary to implement effective and efficient treatments. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Autore Pugliese

• Bonamonte Domenico

Tutti gli autori

• BONAMONTE D.

Titolo volume/Rivista

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Anno di pubblicazione

2015

ISSN

0007-0963

ISBN

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Numero di citazioni Wos

Nessuna citazione

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Numero di citazioni Scopus

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Settori ERC

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Codici ASJC

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