Review, Early Access,
The management of Chronic Hand Eczema: A retrospective patient record review
Affiliations
- [1] LEO Pharm AS, Ind Pk 55, DK-2750 Ballerup, Denmark [NORA names: LEO Pharma; Private Research; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
- [2] Lumanity, London, England [NORA names: United Kingdom; Europe, Non-EU; OECD]
Abstract
BackgroundChronic Hand Eczema (CHE) is a heterogeneous fluctuating inflammatory disease that represents a significant burden. Effective treatment options for moderate to severe CHE are limited.ObjectivesTo assess how patients with moderate to severe CHE are treated in clinical practice.MethodsA retrospective, physician-led patient record review assessed the demographic, clinical and treatment characteristics of patients aged >= 18 years with CHE across seven countries. Each participating physician was requested to review records for their three most recent patients with moderate to severe CHE treated with a topical or systemic therapy.ResultsA total of 264 physicians, of whom 88.6% were dermatologists and 70.1% were predominantly or partly hospital-based, reviewed the records of 792 patients. Signs were present on hands only in 56.4% of patients and the mean time on current treatment was 16.7 months. Overall, 62.9% of patients received systemic therapy and almost one-quarter (23.4%) were treated with a biologic; 28.6% of patients were only treated with topical corticosteroids and/or topical calcineurin inhibitors.ConclusionIn patients with moderate to severe CHE, most received systemic therapy with one-quarter on biologic therapy. However, given that many of these treatments have limited evidence of efficacy in CHE, there is a need for studies specifically in patients with CHE as well as new therapeutic options.