Key Findings Presented from Largest Multinational Real-World Chronic Hand Eczema Studies

Sonja Molin, MD

Credit: Queen's University

Chronic hand eczema (CHE) is common among individuals in the general US population, recent findings suggest, and about 1 in 5 such patients attribute the skin disorder to their occupation.¹

These findings and others were the results of recent research presented at the European Society of Contact Dermatitis (ESCD) congress in September 2024 in Dresden, Germany. The real-world research was the largest set of multinational CHE trials on adult patients.

“The heavy burden of chronic hand eczema is well understood but prevalence has been historically understudied in the general population,” Sonja Molin, MD, chair of the division of dermatology at Queen’s University, said in a statement. “Large-scale, multinational studies like CHECK provide powerful insights to help us better understand this debilitating disease.”

Chronic Hand Eczema

Hand eczema which has lasted for more than 3 months or relapses twice or more within a single year is referred to as CHE. Hand eczema itself is the most common skin condition impacting patients’ hands, and it is known to develop into a chronic condition among many such patients and leading to psychological and functional burdens.²

The data on this condition that were presented at ESCD 2024 were announced by LEO Pharma A/S, with 8 posters included that provided insights into the condition of CHE. The ‘Chronic Hand Eczema epidemiology, Care, and Knowledge of real-life burden’ study (CHECK), a large multinational study involving 60,131 adult patients from Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, and the UK.¹

Major Findings from CHECK

There were 4 CHECK posters included at ESCD. The CHECK study covered the prevalence of CHE among patients, whereas the ‘Real-World trEatment & mAnagement of chronic hand eczema in cLinical practice’ (RWEAL) study highlighted clinician-reported treatment patterns for the skin disorder.

Among the major findings of CHECK, 1 poster reported that the self-reported rate of CHE was 5.6% within the last 12 months. Additionally, the CHECK findings pointed to 4.7% of individuals reporting physician-diagnosed CHE.

CHECK further pointed to the direct impacts of the disease on patients’ leisure, occupations, and overall daily life. Among those who self-reported the condition, 21.5% were noted as attributing it to their occupation, and around 30.3% attributed it to their household/leisure activities. Among those with clinician-reported CHE, while the majority received treatment, all treatment groups noted the persistence of CHE symptoms.

Major Findings from RWEAL

In the RWEAL data presented at ESCD, utilization of medium, high or ultra-high potency topical corticosteroids (TCS) was shown to have occurred for over 90% of individuals with moderate to severe CHE. The findings also showed that about 27.4% of those with moderate to severe disease had moved onto oral immunosuppressants, systemic or phototherapy, and biologic therapies.

In a set of 3 encore posters presented at ESCD, the latest phase 3 clinical trial data from the DELTA 1, 2, and 3 studies were explored. There is also a symposium with the title ‘Dear Diary: Chronic Hand Eczema in the patients’ words’ which ESCD has scheduled to highlight the CHE experience in the words of those who face the skin disease.

“It is a privilege to present the results from the largest real-world studies LEO Pharma has ever completed,” LEO Pharma chief development officer Kreesten Meldgaard Madsen said in a statement. “Our findings from the CHECK study are supported by the physician-reported outcomes of the RWEAL study and for the first time at this scale, the data from both studies can show the needs among people living with this debilitating disease, and the immense impact it can have on quality of life.”¹

References

1. ^{LEO Pharma Presents Data from the Largest-Ever Multinational Real-World Studies of Chronic Hand Eczema (CHE) in Adults at the ESCD 2024 Congress. LEO Pharma. September 5, 2024. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240905505670/en/LEO-Pharma-Presents-Data-from-the-Largest-Ever-Multinational-Real-World-Studies-of-Chronic-Hand-Eczema-CHE-in-Adults-at-the-ESCD-2024-Congress. Date accessed: September 5, 2024.}
2. ^{Cortesi PA, Scalone L, Belisari A, et al. Cost and quality of life in patients with severe chronic hand eczema refractory to standard therapy with topical potent corticosteroids. Contact Dermatitis. 2014;70(3):158-168.}