Clinical characteristics of hand eczema and its association with atopic dermatitis in the Chinese population: A multicenter cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Despite growing awareness on hand eczema (HE) in Western countries, public attention to HE in China is limited. We aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of HE and examine its association with atopic dermatitis (AD) in the Chinese population. A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted across 23 tertiary hospitals in China, between September 2018 and November 2019. HE patients completed a survey covering demographics, allergic diseases, HE-specific characteristics, and underwent patch testing. Clinical severity was assessed using the Hand Eczema Severity Index (HECSI). Binary logistic and linear regression models were used. In total 2,072 HE patients were included (mean age 39.8 years, 60.6% female). The most common HE subtype was allergic contact dermatitis, followed by irritant contact dermatitis. One-third had moderate-to-very severe HE, and at least 64.3% had chronic HE. The positive patch test rate was 50.7%. Approximately one-quarter had a physician-confirmed diagnosis of AD, that was associated with greater HE severity, longer persistence of HE, higher disease burden, and altered contact sensitization patterns in HE patients. This study indicates that addressing both HE and AD might improve prognosis, and quality of life for affected individuals, emphasizing the need for targeted preventions and management strategies for this patient population.