Ann Dermatol.  2012 Nov;24(4):430-437. 10.5021/ad.2012.24.4.430.

The Quality of Life and Depressive Mood among Korean Patients with Hand Eczema

• Yu M
• Han TY
• Lee JH
• Son SJ

• KMID: 2266038
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2012.24.4.430

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Hand eczema is a disease frequently observed in dermatological practice. This condition has negative emotional, social, and psychological effects due to its impact on daily life and morphological appearance. Due to its considerable effect on the quality of life, this disease can lead to depression. However, not many studies have been performed on the quality of life and depression in hand eczema patients.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between the quality of life, depression, and disease severity in hand eczema patients in South Korea.
METHODS
A total of 138 patients with hand eczema participated in this study. The patients' quality of life was assessed by a self-administered questionnaire using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Data on patients suffering from depression was obtained using the Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI-II). The disease severity was determined during the clinical examination, according to the Hand Eczema Severity Index (HECSI).
RESULTS
We found positive associations between DLQI and HECSI scores (p<0.05). BDI-II scores had also statistically positive correlations with HECSI scores (p<0.05). DLQI and BDI-II scores both increased with disease severity.
CONCLUSION
Hand eczema negatively affected the quality of life and mood of patients relative to the disease severity. Therefore, we suggest that quality of life modification and emotional support should be included as a part of treatment for hand eczema.

Keyword

Depression; Eczema of hand; Quality of life

MeSH Terms

Depression
Dermatology
Eczema
Hand
Humans
Quality of Life
Stress, Psychological
Surveys and Questionnaires

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Distribution of age for hand eczema patients.

• 

  Fig. 2 Distribution of disease duration for hand eczema patients.

• 

  Fig. 3 Morphological subtype of hand eczema.

• 

  Fig. 4 Correlation of DLQI (Dermatology Life Quality Index) with HECSI (Hand Eczema Severity Index) for hand eczema patients.

• 

  Fig. 5 Correlation of BDI (Beck's Depression Inventory) score with HECSI (Hand Eczema Severity Index) for hand eczema patients.

Reference

1. Thyssen JP, Johansen JD, Linneberg A, Menné T. The epidemiology of hand eczema in the general population--prevalence and main findings. Contact Dermatitis. 2010. 62:75–87.

2. Meding B, Swanbeck G. Consequences of having hand eczema. Contact Dermatitis. 1990. 23:6–14.

3. Holness DL. Results of a quality of life questionnaire in a patch test clinic population. Contact Dermatitis. 2001. 44:80–84.

4. Fowler JF, Ghosh A, Sung J, Emani S, Chang J, Den E, et al. Impact of chronic hand dermatitis on quality of life, work productivity, activity impairment, and medical costs. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006. 54:448–457.

5. Cvetkovski RS, Zachariae R, Jensen H, Olsen J, Johansen JD, Agner T. Quality of life and depression in a population of occupational hand eczema patients. Contact Dermatitis. 2006. 54:106–111.

6. Misery L, Finlay AY, Martin N, Boussetta S, Nguyen C, Myon E, et al. Atopic dermatitis: impact on the quality of life of patients and their partners. Dermatology. 2007. 215:123–129.

7. Choi MS, Yun SJ, Lee JB, Kim SJ, Lee SC, Won YH. A clinical study of patients with hand eczema. Korean J Dermatol. 2009. 47:1331–1337.

8. Held E, Skoet R, Johansen JD, Agner T. The hand eczema severity index (HECSI): a scoring system for clinical assessment of hand eczema. A study of inter- and intraobserver reliability. Br J Dermatol. 2005. 152:302–307.

9. Diepgen TL, Andersen KE, Brandao FM, Bruze M, Bruynzeel DP, Frosch P, et al. European Environmental and Contact Dermatitis Research Group. Hand eczema classification: a cross-sectional, multicentre study of the aetiology and morphology of hand eczema. Br J Dermatol. 2009. 160:353–358.

10. Weistenhöfer W, Baumeister T, Drexler H, Kütting B. An overview of skin scores used for quantifying hand eczema: a critical update according to the criteria of evidence-based medicine. Br J Dermatol. 2010. 162:239–250.

11. Finlay AY, Khan GK. Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI)--a simple practical measure for routine clinical use. Clin Exp Dermatol. 1994. 19:210–216.

12. Zachariae R, Zachariae C, Ibsen H, Mortensen JT, Wulf HC. Dermatology life quality index: data from Danish inpatients and outpatients. Acta Derm Venereol. 2000. 80:272–276.

13. Beck AT, Ward CH, Mendelson M, Mock J, Erbaugh J. An inventory for measuring depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1961. 4:561–571.

14. Meding B, Lidén C, Berglind N. Self-diagnosed dermatitis in adults. Results from a population survey in Stockholm. Contact Dermatitis. 2001. 45:341–345.

15. Sehgal VN, Srivastava G, Aggarwal AK, Sharma AD. Hand dermatitis/eczema: current management strategy. J Dermatol. 2010. 37:593–610.

16. Berg M, Lindberg M. Possible gender differences in the quality of life and choice of therapy in acne. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2011. 25:969–972.

17. Aksoy B, Altaykan-Hapa A, Egemen D, Karagöz F, Atakan N. The impact of rosacea on quality of life: effects of demographic and clinical characteristics and various treatment modalities. Br J Dermatol. 2010. 163:719–725.

18. Szepietowski JC, Balaskas E, Taube KM, Taberly A, Dupuy P. Uraemic Xerosis Working Group. Quality of life in patients with uraemic xerosis and pruritus. Acta Derm Venereol. 2011. 91:313–317.

19. Calikoglu E, Onder M, Cosar B, Candansayar S. Depression, anxiety levels and general psychological profile in Behçet's disease. Dermatology. 2001. 203:238–240.

20. Devrimci-Ozguven H, Kundakci TN, Kumbasar H, Boyvat A. The depression, anxiety, life satisfaction and affective expression levels in psoriasis patients. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2000. 14:267–271.

21. Agner T, Andersen KE, Brandao FM, Bruynzeel DP, Bruze M, Frosch P, et al. EECDRG. Hand eczema severity and quality of life: a cross-sectional, multicentre study of hand eczema patients. Contact Dermatitis. 2008. 59:43–47.

22. Kim GW, Kim HS, Kim SH, Jung DS, Ko HC, Kim MB, et al. The patch test as a useful tool for avoiding suspected allergens in patients with hand eczema. Korean J Dermatol. 2010. 48:26–32.