Lifetime prevalence and determinants of hand eczema in an adolescent population in Germany: 15‐year follow‐up of the LISA cohort study

Abstract

Background Hand eczema is a common inflammatory skin disorder in both adolescence and adulthood. Objectives We sought to assess the lifetime prevalence of hand eczema and associated exogenous and endogenous risk factors among adolescents in Germany. Methods This was a cross‐sectional study embedded into a prospective population‐based birth cohort in four regions of Germany, which recruited healthy neonates born between November 1997 and January 1999. We included 1736 participants who had completed the 15‐year follow‐up from birth cohort and 84.6% (1468/1736) had clearly reported whether they have ever had hand eczema. All the data were based on questionnaires and blood tests (immunoglobulin E). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to examine endogenous and exogenous factors in relation to the lifetime prevalence of hand eczema among adolescents. Results One thousand four hundred and sixty‐eight adolescents (715 girls, 48.7%) were included in the final analysis. The lifetime prevalence of hand eczema among adolescents at the age of 15 was 10.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.9%–12.1%), with a significantly higher lifetime prevalence among girls than boys (12.7% vs. 8.2%, P = 0.005). Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated statistically significant associations between the lifetime prevalence of hand eczema and having ever been diagnosed with atopic dermatitis (aOR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.1–2.8) or having ever had dry skin (aOR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1–3.1), respectively. No statistically significant independent associations were found between asthma, hay fever, allergy‐related clinical symptoms, immunoglobulin E positivity and other exogenous factors in relation to hand eczema. Conclusion Our study fills a research gap on the epidemiological burden of hand eczema among adolescents. One out of ten ever suffered from hand eczema until age 15 years indicating that hand eczema constitutes a significant burden in paediatric populations. The role of atopic dermatitis in hand eczema reinforces previous findings. Exogenous risk factors warrant further investigation.

The prevalence of hand eczema in an adolescent population

“…Etiological background for HE can be explained by exogenous exposures or endogenous factors (e.g., impaired skin barrier function). According to Wang et al 6 . asthma, IgE positivity for food and inhalant allergens and other lifestyle factors (e.g., reports of daily showering, daily usage of body cream and daily exposure to familial cigarette smoking indoor) were not associated with occurrence of HE.…”

“…Wang et al 6 . presented very interesting data on life‐time prevalence of HE and associations between potential endogenous and exogenous factors in a cohort of 15‐year‐old adolescents from Germany.…”

“…presented very interesting data on life‐time prevalence of HE and associations between potential endogenous and exogenous factors in a cohort of 15‐year‐old adolescents from Germany. It was a cross‐sectional study conducted in four regions of Germany, which recruited 3097 healthy neonates, and 56.1% of the parents or families completed the follow‐ups 6 . After delivery, the parents were asked to complete questionnaires every year until the children were 14 years old and to report whether the children had been diagnosed with an allergy‐related disease or its relevant clinical symptoms in the previous 12 months.…”

“…All the data were based on questionnaires and blood tests (immunoglobulin E). From the birth cohort, 84.6% children had completed the 15‐year follow‐up and reported whether they have ever had HE 6 . The lifetime prevalence of HE among adolescents at the age of 15 was 10.4%, with a significantly higher lifetime prevalence among girls than boys.…”

“…The lifetime prevalence of HE among adolescents at the age of 15 was 10.4%, with a significantly higher lifetime prevalence among girls than boys. Their study showed that likelihood of a first occurrence of HE gradually increases with age 6 …”