Impact of chronic hand dermatitis on quality of life, work productivity, activity impairment, and medical costs - 09/08/11
Reprint requests: Mei Sheng Duh, MPH, ScD, Analysis Group Inc, 111 Huntington Ave, 10th Floor, Boston, MA 02199.Louisville, Kentucky; Boston and Worcester, Massachusetts; East Hanover, New Jersey; and Durham, North Carolina
Abstract |
Background |
The impact of chronic hand dermatitis (ChHD) on patient-reported outcomes and economic costs has not been assessed in a US population.
Objective |
We sought to evaluate the quality of life, work productivity, activity impairment, and health care costs of patients with ChHD versus those without ChHD.
Methods |
A 13-item self-assessment questionnaire to identify ChHD was developed and validated. Skindex-29 and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaires were used to assess quality of life and work productivity for ChHD. The survey was mailed to a random sample of 1380 members of a Massachusetts managed care organization (N = 507, response rate = 36.74%). Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine the incremental effect of ChHD on quality of life, work productivity, and activity impairment. Health insurance claims were used to assess medical costs.
Results |
Quality of life, along with work productivity and activity impairment, were significantly worse for patients with CHD than for those without ChHD; however, there was no significant difference in work time missed. After adjusting for significant covariates, a 25% cost increase in total medical costs was found attributable to ChHD, which translates to an incremental cost of $70 per patient per month.
Limitations |
Survey response rate is not high; the survey respondents may not be completely representative of the nonrespondents. The cost burden of ChHD is underestimated because of the omission of over-the-counter drug and indirect costs. The multivariate models had a low goodness of fit indicated by the low R2 statistics.
Conclusions |
ChHD has a significant detrimental effect on quality of life, work productivity, activity impairment, and heath care costs. More awareness and treatment of this condition are needed to improve patient outcomes and decrease health care cost.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Abbreviations used : ChHD, FCHP, OTC, WPAI
Plan
| Supported by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. Disclosure: Dr Sung and Dr Thorn are employees of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. Ms Chang’s fellowship was funded by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp at the time of the study, and is currently an employee of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. Drs Fowler, Ghosh, and Duh, and Ms Den, have received research funding from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. Posters of selected results were presented at the 9th Annual International Meeting of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research, May 16-19, 2004, Washington, DC; at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, February 18-22, 2005, New Orleans, LA; and at the 10th Annual International Meeting of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research, May 15-18, 2005, Washington, DC. |
Vol 54 - N° 3
P. 448-457 - mars 2006 Retour au numéro
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