Cost of illness from occupational hand eczema in Germany. (22nd July 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Diepgen, Thomas L.; Scheidt, Reginald; Weisshaar, Elke; John, Swen M.; Hieke, Klaus
• Is Part Of: Contact dermatitis. Volume 69:Number 2(2013:Aug.)
• Page Start: 99
• Page End: 106
• Publication Date: 2013-07-22
• Subjects: Contact dermatitis -- Periodicals; 616.51
• DOI: 10.1111/cod.12038
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0105-1873

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Summary</title> <sec id="cod12038-sec-0100" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>There is little knowledge about the costs of occupational hand eczema.</p> </sec> <sec id="cod12038-sec-0101" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>To estimate the societal costs of patients with occupational hand eczema in Germany.</p> </sec> <sec id="cod12038-sec-0102" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Resource use during the past year, disease severity and quality of life [Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI)] were gathered for patients with occupational hand eczema before they entered a special rehabilitation programme. Costs were calculated from the societal perspective. The analysis focused on all patients and the severity groups no signs/mild (group A) and moderate to severe (group B).</p> </sec> <sec id="cod12038-sec-0103" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>One hundred and fifty‐one patients were analysed, with a mean age of 44.9~years and a mean DLQI score of 10.9; 64.9% were male. Sickness absence was recorded for 62.9% of all patients (76.4~days on average in the last 12~months). Annual societal costs were €8799 per patient. Indirect costs represented 70% of total costs. Quality of life (DLQI) was statistically different across both severity groups (group A, 7.9; group B, 12.9), but direct treatment costs were not (€2705 versus €2610, respectively). There was a trend towards higher indirect costs in patients in severity group B (group A, €5120; group B, €6796).</p> </sec> <sec id="cod12038-sec-0104" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>The annual societal costs of patients with occupational hand eczema in this study are high, and similar to those for severe psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.</p> </sec> </abstract>