Survey Suggests Lack of Awareness, Treatments for Chronic Hand Eczema

Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD

Credit: American Journal of Managed Care

In a recent survey conducted by Ipsos and commissioned by LEO Pharma Inc., results demonstrate that 65% of dermatology care providers believe there is a lack of education and awareness surrounding the condition known as chronic hand eczema (CHE), in addition to findings suggests that most see drugs approved for atopic dermatitis as inadequate.¹

This survey represents the initial phase of an ongoing analysis, including responses that were taken from 100 dermatologists and 92 nurse practitioners (NPs) or physician assistants (PAs) that specialize in dermatology. This self-administered portion was conducted online as a 15-minute, cross-sectional questionnaire among healthcare providers currently practicing within the US.

“Affecting about 15.9 million people in the U.S., CHE is associated with pain, itching, and cracked, raw, blistering skin lesions that can make life difficult,” Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD, MSCI, clinical associate professor at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science Chicago Medical School, said in a statement. “Unfortunately, because CHE is a multifactorial condition with overlapping morphologic and etiologic subtypes, diagnosis and treatment can be complex and burdensome.”¹

The research team’s criteria for survey eligibility required those who chose to be respondents to be practicing dermatologists, NPs, or PAs in dermatology offices who had also treated at least 10 individuals suffering from moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis on the wrists or hands within the prior 6-month period. The collection of the investigators’ survey data took place between January - February 2025, with participants being recruited from opt-in panels of dermatology professionals across the US.

In the investigative team’s final sample size, there were a total of of 192 healthcare providers involved in the survey. These included a total of 100 dermatologists and 92 NPs/PAs who were shown to work in dermatology practices. The respondents’ answers to the questions were weighted by the team to ensure regional representation, and the added that their findings reflect the perspectives of these professionals.

In addition to their finding that 65% of respondents’ view there to be a lack of awareness of CHE as a condition, the results further suggest that 51% of surveyed providers feel that current treatments which are approved for those with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis are not adequate for managing those with moderate-to-severe CHE.¹

The investigators further noted that close to two-thirds of those responding to the survey believe that CHE is more challenging to treat than other chronic skin diseases, with psoriasis used as an example. Despite CHE’s significant burden among patients, and despite recent positive findings on CHE-specific drugs, there is currently no FDA-approved treatment specifically for the disease.²

There is a significant time commitment required for providers in the management of CHE, the survey suggests, with 62% of respondents indicating that their patients suffering from moderate-to-severe CHE visit the clinic 3 to 4 times per year. Additionally, 27% report that patients will need 5 to 6 visits to the clinic annually.¹

While 61% of respondents estimated that their patients are on an average of 3 to 4 different medications for their disease, the results of this analysis highlight concerns about medication adherence as nearly 24% of providers estimate that between 31% and 50% of their CHE patients do not adhere to their prescribed medications.¹

In the survey’s second phase, the whole of which is scheduled for release in the second quarter of 2025, findings suggest that 96% of dermatology providers in the US believe moderate-to-severe CHE substantially impacts work and home lives of patients.¹ In this second phase, the investigative team hopes to provide additional insights into the daily effects of CHE on those living with the condition, based on the views of their providers.

LEO Pharma is slated to host, to raise awareness and improve CHE understanding among dermatology professionals, a symposium titled “Chronic Hand Eczema: A New Day Is at Hand” on March 6 at 7 pm ET at the Hyatt Regency Orlando, just prior to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting.¹ The event is designed to highlight other survey results and facilitate discussions on CHE treatment-related unmet needs.

“It is crucial that we continue to learn more about this condition and explore effective longitudinal disease management strategies to help alleviate its burden,” Chovatiya said in a statement.¹

References

1. LEO Pharma Survey: Dermatology Providers Say Chronic Hand Eczema Is Widely Misunderstood and Inadequately Managed. LEO Pharma, Inc. March 5, 2025. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250305690094/en/LEO-Pharma-Survey-Dermatology-Providers-Say-Chronic-Hand-Eczema-Is-Widely-Misunderstood-and-Inadequately-Managed.

2. LEO Pharma Meets Primary Endpoint in Phase 3 DELTA China Trial with Anzupgo® (delgocitinib) Cream in Chinese Patients with Moderate to Severe Chronic Hand Eczema (CHE). LEO Pharma A/S. February 27, 2025. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250227098010/en/LEO-Pharma-Meets-Primary-Endpoint-in-Phase-3-DELTA-China-Trial-with-Anzupgo%C2%AE-delgocitinib-Cream-in-Chinese-Patients-with-Moderate-to-Severe-Chronic-Hand-Eczema-CHE. Date accessed: March 5, 2025.