Disease severity and quality of life in a follow-up study of patients with occupational contact dermatitis

BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated how occupational contact dermatitis and its severity affect patients' quality of life (QoL). OBJECTIVES: To investigate the impact of occupational contact dermatitis and its severity on patients' QoL, and to examine the association between different QoL measures. METHOD: Patients previously diagnosed with occupational contact dermatitis completed the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Disease severity was rated both by the patient and by the physician. RESULTS: Of a possible 725, a total of 119 patients (16.4%) were included in the study, and, at follow-up, just over 21% had normal skin and 18.3% had progressed to persistent dermatitis. The SF-36 median physical component summary score was 52 [interquartile range (IQR): 43-56] and the mental component summary median score was 51 (IQR: 44-57). The correlation between patient-rated and physician-rated disease severity was moderate (r = 0.708, p < 0.00001). The correlation between the disease severity measures and DLQI was moderate, whereas the SF-36 correlated poorly with both the DLQI and disease severity measures. CONCLUSIONS: QoL was generally reduced in this group of patients with occupational contact dermatitis, with some correlation between severity and DLQI. The DLQI was a more sensitive measurement of QoL than the SF-36 in this patient population. Incorporating disease severity rating with a QoL questionnaire is valuable in occupational contact dermatitis and is recommended.