Even mild hand eczema can significantly impair one's quality of life and mental health, according to a new study.
The findings, presented at the recent Revolutionizing Atopic Dermatitis (RAD) Conference, spanned data collected from 2013 to 2020, addressed the outsized impact of hand eczema symptoms, independent of overall atopic dermatitis (AD) severity. The patient population included 542 AD patients with hand eczema. Disease severity was assessed using the Physician’s Global Assessment. Quality of life was measured using tools such as the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS).
According to the study results, mild hand eczema increased scores for itch severity and its interference with daily activities and sleep. Moderate-to-severe hand eczema was associated with an increase in adverse effects. Patients reported impacts on physical activities (aOR = 2.85, P = 0.04), self-consciousness (aOR = 2.42, P = 0.02), and social/ leisure activities (aOR = 2.88, P = 0.007). Familial relationships and partner dynamics were notably affected (aOR of 2.75 [P = 0.01]).
"We found that the presence of hand eczema, even mild hand eczema, led to major negative impacts on quality of life in patients with atopic dermatitis, such as self-consciousness, impacts on social and leisure activities and family relationships," Johnathan Silverberg, MD, PhD, MPH, professor and Director of Clinical Research at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, told Practical Dermatology. More severe hand eczema was associated with even worse impacts than mild hand eczema. The harmful impacts of hand eczema occurred above and beyond the impacts of atopic dermatitis elsewhere on the body.