Cost and quality of life in patients with severe chronic hand eczema refractory to standard therapy with topical potent corticosteroids. (19th September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cortesi, Paolo A.; Scalone, Luciana; Belisari, Andrea; Bonamonte, Domenico; Cannavò, Serafinella Patrizia; Cristaudo, Antonio; De Pità, Ornella; Gallo, Rosella; Giannetti, Alberto; Gola, Massimo; Pigatto, Paolo D.; Mantovani, Lorenzo G.
• Is Part Of: Contact dermatitis. Volume 70:Number 3(2014:Mar.)
• Page Start: 158
• Page End: 168
• Publication Date: 2013-09-19
• Subjects: Contact dermatitis -- Periodicals; 616.51
• DOI: 10.1111/cod.12130
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0105-1873

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="cod12130-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <sec id="cod12130-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p id="cod12130-para-0001">Little is known about the socio‐economic burden of severe chronic hand eczema in patients refractory to treatment with potent corticosteroids.</p> </sec> <sec id="cod12130-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p id="cod12130-para-0002">To estimate the socio‐economic burden of severe chronic hand eczema refractory to potent topical corticosteroids, and to establish an algorithm for the estimation of the health‐related quality of life EuroQol five‐dimensional (EQ‐5D) utility index from the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) summary score.</p> </sec> <sec id="cod12130-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p id="cod12130-para-0003">A multicentre cost of illness study was conducted, adopting the societal perspective. Adult patients with severe and refractory chronic hand eczema were enrolled. Direct (e.g. drug treatment and travel) and indirect (i.e. loss of productivity) mean costs/patient‐month were estimated. Health‐related quality of life was assessed with the EQ‐5D and DLQI questionnaires. An ordinary least square regression model was used to investigate relationships between health‐related quality of life scores.</p> </sec> <sec id="cod12130-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p id="cod12130-para-0004">One hundred and four valid patients (mean age 44.5 years, 39.4% male) participated. Overall mean costs were €418.3/patient‐month: loss of productivity contributed 43.7%, followed by hospitalization (16.1%) and travel (10.3%). Health‐related quality of life scores were, on average, 0.50 (EQ‐5D utility) and 11.3 (DLQI). Utility and DLQI summary were significantly related to each other.</p> </sec> <sec id="cod12130-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p id="cod12130-para-0005">Wellbeing and loss of productivity are the most important consequences in these patients. Appropriate treatment is necessary to improve patient health and productivity, which will contribute to reducing societal costs.</p> </sec> </abstract>