Cost and quality of life in patients with severe chronic hand eczema refractory to standard therapy with topical potent corticosteroids
Articolo
Data di Pubblicazione:
2014
Citazione:
Cost and quality of life in patients with severe chronic hand eczema refractory to standard therapy with topical potent corticosteroids / P.A. Cortesi, L. Scalone, A. Belisari, D. Bonamonte, S.P. Cannavò, A. Cristaudo, O. De Pità, R. Gallo, A. Giannetti, M. Gola, P.D. Pigatto, L.G. Mantovani. - In: CONTACT DERMATITIS. - ISSN 0105-1873. - 70:3(2014 Mar), pp. 158-168. [10.1111/cod.12130]
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Little is known about the socio-economic burden of severe chronic hand eczema in patients refractory to treatment with potent corticosteroids. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the socio-economic burden of severe chronic hand eczema refractory to potent topical corticosteroids, and to establish an algorithm for the estimation of the health-related quality of life EuroQol five-dimensional (EQ-5D) utility index from the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) summary score. METHODS: A multicentre cost of illness study was conducted, adopting the societal perspective. Adult patients with severe and refractory chronic hand eczema were enrolled. Direct (e.g. drug treatment and travel) and indirect (i.e. loss of productivity) mean costs/patient-month were estimated. Health-related quality of life was assessed with the EQ-5D and DLQI questionnaires. An ordinary least square regression model was used to investigate relationships between health-related quality of life scores. RESULTS: One hundred and four valid patients (mean age 44.5 years, 39.4% male) participated. Overall mean costs were €418.3/patient-month: loss of productivity contributed 43.7%, followed by hospitalization (16.1%) and travel (10.3%). Health-related quality of life scores were, on average, 0.50 (EQ-5D utility) and 11.3 (DLQI). Utility and DLQI summary were significantly related to each other. CONCLUSIONS: Wellbeing and loss of productivity are the most important consequences in these patients. Appropriate treatment is necessary to improve patient health and productivity, which will contribute to reducing societal costs.
Tipologia IRIS:
01 - Articolo su periodico
Keywords:
chronic hand eczema; cost of illness; health-related quality of life; healthcare costs; loss of productivity; refractoriness to therapy
Elenco autori:
P.A. Cortesi, L. Scalone, A. Belisari, D. Bonamonte, S.P. Cannavò, A. Cristaudo, O. De Pità, R. Gallo, A. Giannetti, M. Gola, P.D. Pigatto, L.G. Mantovani
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