Impact of Allergic Contact Dermatitis on the Quality of Life and Work Productivity

Overview

Journal Dermatol Res Pract

Publisher Wiley

Specialty Dermatology

Date 2019 Apr 4

PMID 30941167

Citations 10

Authors

H Kalboussi

I Kacem

H Aroui

O El Maalel

M Maoua

A Brahem

S El Guedri

S Chatti

N Ghariani

N Mrizak

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a common chronic skin disease that generates considerable public-health and socioeconomic costs. This disease affects the quality of life and the occupational activity of patients.

Aims: To assess the quality of life (QOL) of patients with ACD and study the impact of this disease on their work productivity.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study carried out from January 2012 to December 2014. All patients diagnosed with ACD in the Dermato-Allergology Unit of the Occupational Medicine Department at Farhat Hached University Hospital, in Sousse, were included. The impact of skin disease on the QOL of affected persons was assessed using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). The work productivity was measured using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Allergic Specific questionnaire (WPAI: AS).

Results: The study population consisted of 150 patients. The average score of DLQI was 6.5. Over the previous 7 days, absenteeism rate was 25.9 ± 15.3%, presenteeism rate was 50.2 ± 32%, overall work productivity loss was 29.6 ± 19.4%, and daily activity impairment was 50.4 ± 32.3%. The DLQI score was significantly associated with atopy (p = 0.03), relapses strictly greater than 10 (p = 0.02), presenteeism (p <10), overall work productivity loss (p = 0.01), and daily activity impairment (p = 0.03).

Conclusion: The impact of ACD on QOL and occupational activity seems important and requires specific attention from the occupational physician.

Citing Articles

Impact of infection prevention measures on the occurrence of cutaneous lesions and the quality of life of frontline and non-frontline healthcare workers: A multicentre cross-sectional study.

Sellami I, Abbes A, Haddar A, Feki A, Kotti N, Halweni H J Infect Prev. 2025; :17571774251324382.

PMID: 40051734 PMC: 11881100. DOI: 10.1177/17571774251324382.

A Systematic Review of 207 Studies Describing Validation Aspects of the Dermatology Life Quality Index.

Vyas J, Johns J, Ali F, Ingram J, Salek S, Finlay A Acta Derm Venereol. 2024; 104:adv41120.

PMID: 39508500 PMC: 11559262. DOI: 10.2340/actadv.v104.41120.

A short-term high-sugar diet is an aggravating factor in experimental allergic contact dermatitis.

Coelho L, Casaro M, Ribeiro W, Mendes E, Murata G, Xander P Heliyon. 2023; 9(11):e21225.

PMID: 38034704 PMC: 10682547. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21225.

A database of human predictive patch test data for skin sensitization.

Strickland J, Abedini J, Allen D, Gordon J, Hull V, Kleinstreuer N Arch Toxicol. 2023; 97(11):2825-2837.

PMID: 37615678 PMC: 10504114. DOI: 10.1007/s00204-023-03530-3.

In Vitro Monitoring of Human T Cell Responses to Skin Sensitizing Chemicals-A Systematic Review.

Aparicio-Soto M, Curato C, Riedel F, Thierse H, Luch A, Siewert K Cells. 2022; 11(1).

PMID: 35011644 PMC: 8750770. DOI: 10.3390/cells11010083.

References

Reilly M, Lavin P, Kahler K, Pariser D . Validation of the Dermatology Life Quality Index and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment-Chronic Hand Dermatitis questionnaire in chronic hand dermatitis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2003; 48(1):128-30. DOI: 10.1067/mjd.2003.128. View

Ferraz L, Almeida F, Vasconcellos M, Faccina A, Ciconelli R, Ferraz M . The impact of lupus erythematosus cutaneous on the Quality of life: the Brazilian-Portuguese version of DLQI. Qual Life Res. 2006; 15(3):565-70. DOI: 10.1007/s11136-005-2638-9. View

Reilly M, Gooch K, Wong R, Kupper H, van der Heijde D . Validity, reliability and responsiveness of the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire in ankylosing spondylitis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2010; 49(4):812-9. DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/kep457. View

Wallenhammar L, Nyfjall M, Lindberg M, Meding B . Health-related quality of life and hand eczema--a comparison of two instruments, including factor analysis. J Invest Dermatol. 2004; 122(6):1381-9. DOI: 10.1111/j.0022-202X.2004.22604.x. View

Matterne U, Apfelbacher C, Soder S, Diepgen T, Weisshaar E . Health-related quality of life in health care workers with work-related skin diseases. Contact Dermatitis. 2009; 61(3):145-51. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0536.2009.01592.x. View

Saint-Mezard P, Rosieres A, Krasteva M, Berard F, Dubois B, Kaiserlian D . Allergic contact dermatitis. Eur J Dermatol. 2004; 14(5):284-95. View

Skoet R, Zachariae R, Agner T . Contact dermatitis and quality of life: a structured review of the literature. Br J Dermatol. 2003; 149(3):452-6. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2133.2003.05601.x. View

Kostner L, Anzengruber F, Guillod C, Recher M, Schmid-Grendelmeier P, Navarini A . Allergic Contact Dermatitis. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2016; 37(1):141-152. DOI: 10.1016/j.iac.2016.08.014. View

Basra M, Fenech R, Gatt R, Salek M, Finlay A . The Dermatology Life Quality Index 1994-2007: a comprehensive review of validation data and clinical results. Br J Dermatol. 2008; 159(5):997-1035. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2008.08832.x. View

10.

Reilly M, Gerlier L, Brabant Y, Brown M . Validity, reliability, and responsiveness of the work productivity and activity impairment questionnaire in Crohn's disease. Clin Ther. 2008; 30(2):393-404. DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2008.02.016. View

11.

Thomsen S . Atopic dermatitis: natural history, diagnosis, and treatment. ISRN Allergy. 2014; 2014:354250. PMC: 4004110. DOI: 10.1155/2014/354250. View

12.

Clemmensen K, Caroe T, Thomsen S, Ebbehoj N, Agner T . Two-year follow-up survey of patients with allergic contact dermatitis from an occupational cohort: is the prognosis dependent on the omnipresence of the allergen?. Br J Dermatol. 2013; 170(5):1100-5. DOI: 10.1111/bjd.12795. View

13.

Holness D . Workers with Occupational Contact Dermatitis: Work Outcomes and Return to Work Process in the First Six Months following Diagnosis. J Allergy (Cairo). 2011; 2011:170693. PMC: 3124837. DOI: 10.1155/2011/170693. View

14.

Horn H, Tidman M . Quality of life in epidermolysis bullosa. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2002; 27(8):707-10. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2230.2002.01121.x. View

15.

Lau M, Matheson M, Burgess J, Dharmage S, Nixon R . Disease severity and quality of life in a follow-up study of patients with occupational contact dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis. 2011; 65(3):138-45. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0536.2011.01896.x. View

16.

Cvetkovski R, Zachariae R, Jensen H, Olsen J, Johansen J, Agner T . Quality of life and depression in a population of occupational hand eczema patients. Contact Dermatitis. 2006; 54(2):106-11. DOI: 10.1111/j.0105-1873.2006.00783.x. View

17.

Mazharinia N, Aghaei S, Shayan Z . Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scores in burn victims after revival. J Burn Care Res. 2007; 28(2):312-7. DOI: 10.1097/BCR.0B013E318031A151. View

18.

Zhang W, Bansback N, Boonen A, Young A, Singh A, Anis A . Validity of the work productivity and activity impairment questionnaire--general health version in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Res Ther. 2010; 12(5):R177. PMC: 2991008. DOI: 10.1186/ar3141. View

19.

Soder S, Diepgen T, Radulescu M, Apfelbacher C, Bruckner T, Weisshaar E . Occupational skin diseases in cleaning and kitchen employees: course and quality of life after measures of secondary individual prevention. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2007; 5(8):670-6. DOI: 10.1111/j.1610-0387.2007.06419.x. View

20.

Finlay A, Khan G . Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI)--a simple practical measure for routine clinical use. Clin Exp Dermatol. 1994; 19(3):210-6. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.1994.tb01167.x. View