Sex Differences in Chronic Hand Eczema (CHE) Triggering Factors: Comorbidities, Lifestyle, and Exposures Findings From a Multinational Study in Six Countries
Author(s)
Marie-Noëlle Crépy, MD1, Anthony Bewley, MD2, Sonja Molin, MD3, Ana-Maria Giménez-Arnau, MD4, Lysel Brignoli, MS5, Bleuenn Rault, MS5, Emma Borg, MSc6, JENNY M. Norlin, PhD6, Maria Concetta Fargnoli, MD7, Christian Apfelbacher, Prof8.
1Department of Occupational and Environmental Diseases, University Hospital of Centre of Paris, Hotel-Dieu Hospital, Paris, France, 2Barts Health NHS Trust & QMUL, London, United Kingdom, 3Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany, 4Department of Dermatology, Hospital de Mar Research Institute, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain, 5Oracle Life Sciences, Paris, France, 6LEO pharma A/S, Ballerup, Denmark, 7San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, IRCCS, Rome, Italy, 8Institute of Social Medicine and Health Systems Research, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
1Department of Occupational and Environmental Diseases, University Hospital of Centre of Paris, Hotel-Dieu Hospital, Paris, France, 2Barts Health NHS Trust & QMUL, London, United Kingdom, 3Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany, 4Department of Dermatology, Hospital de Mar Research Institute, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain, 5Oracle Life Sciences, Paris, France, 6LEO pharma A/S, Ballerup, Denmark, 7San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, IRCCS, Rome, Italy, 8Institute of Social Medicine and Health Systems Research, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
OBJECTIVES: CHE is a burdensome dermatological disease, with several subtypes and diverse etiologies. Exposure to irritants and allergens encountered in daily activities can cause or exacerbate CHE. Consequently, CHE is one of the most prevalent occupational skin diseases. Females are more likely to experience CHE, nevertheless sex-differences are not well known. Our objective is to describe sex-differences in terms of comorbidities, lifestyle and exposures that could be associated with CHE.
METHODS: The CHECK (Chronic Hand Eczema epidemiology, Care, and Knowledge of real-life burden) study was conducted in adults representative of the general population in Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK. Physician-diagnosed CHE was defined as eczema on the hand(s) and/or wrist(s) persisting for ≤3 months or with ≤2 flares in the past 12 months.
RESULTS: Females experienced more comorbidities than males: out of 14 comorbidities listed, 6 were more frequent for females (only one for males; p<0.05). Almost one third (30.3%) experienced emotional or mental conditions (20.3% in males; p<0.05). Females were more often working in wet occupations than males (22.6% vs. 11.4%, respectively; p<0.05). Nevertheless, proportion of females attributing their CHE to their work was not different from males. A higher proportion of females attributed their CHE to household/leisure activities (34.8% vs. 22.6%; p<0.05). They were also more likely to be exposed to irritants (41.9% vs. 31.8%), allergens (30.8% vs. 22.2%), or proteins (37.2% vs. 32.1%) (p<0.05). A larger proportion of females changed their household/leisure activities due to their CHE compared to males (40.6% vs. 29.4%) (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Females reported more comorbidities than males, including emotional or mental conditions. Exposures to CHE-triggers were more common in females, and the CHE was more often associated with in household/leisure activities in females than in males. Different CHE trigger factors should be further investigated to better understand the impact on females experience with CHE.
METHODS: The CHECK (Chronic Hand Eczema epidemiology, Care, and Knowledge of real-life burden) study was conducted in adults representative of the general population in Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK. Physician-diagnosed CHE was defined as eczema on the hand(s) and/or wrist(s) persisting for ≤3 months or with ≤2 flares in the past 12 months.
RESULTS: Females experienced more comorbidities than males: out of 14 comorbidities listed, 6 were more frequent for females (only one for males; p<0.05). Almost one third (30.3%) experienced emotional or mental conditions (20.3% in males; p<0.05). Females were more often working in wet occupations than males (22.6% vs. 11.4%, respectively; p<0.05). Nevertheless, proportion of females attributing their CHE to their work was not different from males. A higher proportion of females attributed their CHE to household/leisure activities (34.8% vs. 22.6%; p<0.05). They were also more likely to be exposed to irritants (41.9% vs. 31.8%), allergens (30.8% vs. 22.2%), or proteins (37.2% vs. 32.1%) (p<0.05). A larger proportion of females changed their household/leisure activities due to their CHE compared to males (40.6% vs. 29.4%) (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Females reported more comorbidities than males, including emotional or mental conditions. Exposures to CHE-triggers were more common in females, and the CHE was more often associated with in household/leisure activities in females than in males. Different CHE trigger factors should be further investigated to better understand the impact on females experience with CHE.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
PCR214
Topic
Patient-Centered Research
Topic Subcategory
Patient-reported Outcomes & Quality of Life Outcomes
Disease
Sensory System Disorders (Ear, Eye, Dental, Skin)