Prognosis of occupational hand eczema: a follow-up study.

Objective: To identify prognostic risk factors in patients with occupational hand eczema (OHE).

Design: Cohort study with 1-year follow-up.

Setting: Danish National Board of Industrial Injuries Registry.

Quality of life and depression in a population of occupational hand eczema patients.

Occupational hand eczema (OHE) is the most frequently recognized occupational disease in Denmark, and despite governmental attempts to reduce exposure to harmful occupational allergens, the number of new cases has remained almost unchanged since the mid-1990s. Some studies have indicated that OHE has considerable impact on quality of life (QoL) and may lead to depression. The aims of the study were to determine risk factors for low QoL, the frequency and severity of depression among OHE patients and changes in QoL and depression after 12 months of follow up.