Associations between lifestyle factors and hand eczema severity: are tobacco smoking, obesity and stress significantly linked to eczema severity?

TY - JOUR

T1 - Associations between lifestyle factors and hand eczema severity

T2 - are tobacco smoking, obesity and stress significantly linked to eczema severity?

AU - Sørensen, Jennifer A

AU - Fisker, Maja H

AU - Agner, Tove

AU - Clemmensen, Kim K B

AU - Ebbehøj, Niels E

N1 - © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PY - 2017/3/1

Y1 - 2017/3/1

N2 - BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that lifestyle factors such as smoking, overweight and stress may influence the prevalence and severity of hand eczema.OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between lifestyle factors and hand eczema severity in a cohort of patients with work-related hand eczema.METHODS: Individuals with work-related hand eczema notified in the period between June 2012 and November 2013 were included in this questionnaire-based cross-sectional study. Participants responded to a questionnaire including questions on lifestyle factors, as well as a photographic guide for assessment of severity of hand eczema and questions on quality of life.RESULTS: A total of 773 individuals (546 women and 227 men) responded to the questionnaire and were included in the study. A strong association was found between tobacco smoking and hand eczema severity (p = 0.003), whereas no significant association was found for body weight and stress. Other factors linked to severe eczema were male sex and older age (p = 0.04 and p = 0.01, respectively), and wet work (p = 0.08).CONCLUSION: The data from the present study strongly support an association between smoking and hand eczema severity. However, owing to the cross-sectional design of the study, no conclusion on causation can be drawn.

AB - BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that lifestyle factors such as smoking, overweight and stress may influence the prevalence and severity of hand eczema.OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between lifestyle factors and hand eczema severity in a cohort of patients with work-related hand eczema.METHODS: Individuals with work-related hand eczema notified in the period between June 2012 and November 2013 were included in this questionnaire-based cross-sectional study. Participants responded to a questionnaire including questions on lifestyle factors, as well as a photographic guide for assessment of severity of hand eczema and questions on quality of life.RESULTS: A total of 773 individuals (546 women and 227 men) responded to the questionnaire and were included in the study. A strong association was found between tobacco smoking and hand eczema severity (p = 0.003), whereas no significant association was found for body weight and stress. Other factors linked to severe eczema were male sex and older age (p = 0.04 and p = 0.01, respectively), and wet work (p = 0.08).CONCLUSION: The data from the present study strongly support an association between smoking and hand eczema severity. However, owing to the cross-sectional design of the study, no conclusion on causation can be drawn.

KW - Adult

KW - Comorbidity

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Eczema/epidemiology

KW - Female

KW - Hand Dermatoses/epidemiology

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Prevalence

KW - Quality of Life

KW - Risk Factors

KW - Severity of Illness Index

KW - Smoking/epidemiology

KW - Surveys and Questionnaires

U2 - 10.1111/cod.12674

DO - 10.1111/cod.12674

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 27709631

SN - 1396-6669

VL - 76

SP - 138

EP - 145

JO - Contact Dermatitis

JF - Contact Dermatitis

IS - 3

ER -