OBJECTIVES: Chronic hand eczema (CHE), a heterogenous fluctuating inflammatory skin disease of the hands and wrists, can have a substantial impact on patients’ daily lives and physical functioning. The impact of CHE on work productivity was assessed in patients enrolled in two clinical trials.

METHODS: DELTA 1 and 2 (NCT04871711 and NCT04872101) were phase 3 trials of identical design in which adults with moderate to severe CHE were randomized (2:1) to twice-daily delgocitinib cream 20 mg/g or cream vehicle for 16 weeks. Data were pooled from both trials and work productivity loss (i.e., absenteeism and presentism) was assessed using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI):CHE questionnaire. The association between treatment response as measured by relative change in Hand Eczema Severity Index (HECSI) and work productivity loss at 16 weeks was assessed.

RESULTS: Across the two trials, 960 patients were randomized to delgocitinib cream or cream vehicle. A total of 772 patients (80.5%) reported being employed full-time (64.8%) or part-time (15.7%). An environmental trigger for CHE was reported by 485 patients (51.5%); of these, 268 (55.3%) considered CHE occupationally relevant. Onset/worsening of CHE symptoms during work was reported by 352 patients (36.7%). Among employed patients, 144 (18.7%) reported days home from work due to CHE during the last year (<7 days, 49.3%; 7–21 days, 20.1% and >21 days, 30.6%). Overall, least squares mean change from baseline in work productivity loss score was −17.7%-points after 16 weeks of delgocitinib cream. When analyzed by clinical response to delgocitinib cream, greater HECSI response was associated with a greater decrease in work productivity loss score from baseline to week 16 (HECSI<50, −5.2%-points; HECSI-50-<75, −16.2%-points; HECSI-75-<90, −24.8%-points; HECSI-90-<100, −27.4%-points).

CONCLUSIONS: CHE is associated with impaired work productivity in adults with moderate to severe CHE. Clinical improvements in CHE were associated with reduced work productivity loss.