LEO Pharma, Allergy UK and the CHE Taskforce have published the results of a survey that revealed the real-life impacts and heavy burdens of chronic hand eczema (CHE) that patients experience.
The Chronic Hand Eczema Patient Impact Report was supported by LEO Pharma’s multi-disciplinary taskforce, which comprises healthcare professionals (HCPs) with expertise in CHE.
Affecting up to 14% of the UK population, hand eczema (HE) is a painful inflammatory skin condition caused by different contributing factors that occurs across the hands and the wrists.
CHE is determined by symptoms that persist for more than three months or recur two or more times within a 12-month period, with patients experiencing repeated cycles of flares.
Approximately 152 people aged 18 years and over in the UK who had experienced CHE for more than a year took part in a 15-minute online survey that focused on the physical experience and unavoidable triggers of CHE, its psychosocial impact, quality of life (QOL) and relationships, impact on work and education, and the patient healthcare experience.
The report revealed that CHE negatively affected QOL, work and relationships, with more than 50% of respondents reporting that they had experienced anxiety or anger due to CHE, while only 14% had been asked about the emotional impact of their CHE by an HCP.
In addition, around 50% of respondents said that their CHE influenced their career choice, while 72% stated that they currently experience some impact on their current work or education.
The report also revealed that the most common physical symptoms of CHE were itchy skin, which was selected by 96% of respondents, followed by dry or chapped skin (91%) and cracking skin (88%).
Moreover, 4% reported that they had received a CHE diagnosis, while 80% said that they had been diagnosed with eczema or atopic dermatitis and 8% had no formal diagnosis.
“Ensuring there is a well-rounded and holistic understanding of what it is like to have CHE is a vital first step in delivering the healthcare support patients with CHE need, so patient outcomes are improved,” said Allergy UK’s chief executive officer, Simone Miles.