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Occurrence and prognosis of hand eczema in the car industry: results from the PACO follow-up study (PACO II)

2008; Wiley; Volume: 58; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.1600-0536.2008.01329.x

1600-0536

Christian Apfelbacher, Magda Radulescu, Thomas L. Diepgen, Ulrich Funke,

Immunotoxicology and immune responses

Background: Only a few epidemiological studies on hand eczema (HE) in the metalworking industry have been conducted, and no study has attempted a long‐term follow‐up. Objectives: In the Prospective Audi Cohort (PACO) II follow‐up study, we aimed to estimate burden and prognosis of HE in a car industry setting (follow‐up > 10 years). Patients/Methods: Eligible participants were individuals who had been examined in the original PACO study (1990–1998) and had been followed through until the end of their apprenticeship ( n = 1909). Participants were interviewed and underwent dermatological examination. An exposure assessment was carried out according to a pre‐defined algorithm. Results: The follow‐up rate was 78.3% (1494/1909). Mean follow‐up time was 13.3 [standard deviation 1.3] years. The period prevalence of HE in the follow‐up period was 21.0% [95% confidence interval (CI) 19.0–23.1%], yielding a cumulative incidence of 29.3% (95% CI 26.9–31.6%) in the entire study period. HE persisted after the end of apprenticeship in 40.0% (95% CI 33.3–46.7%) of subjects who had had HE during apprenticeship ( n = 205). 18.0% (95% CI 15.9–20.1%) developed HE in the follow‐up period ( n = 1289). Conclusions: Around 30% of subjects were affected by HE at least once during the study period. HE persisted in 40% of the participants affected during apprenticeship.