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The aim of this study was to investigate the validity of self-patch testing for nickel allergy, in order to determine a cost-effective method for surveillance of the prevalence of nickel allergy. Population-based study including patch testing is the most reliable method to study the prevalence of allergy, but it is expensive and has logistical problems. A total of 191 dermatology patients referred to patch tes-ting were provided with a self-test package with written instructions. The self-test was applied on the arm by the patient, on the same day that the regular patch test was applied on the back. The patient evaluated the self-test before patch test reading at the clinic. Patch test at the dermatology clinic detected 46/191 (24%) nickel-positive individuals. The sensitivity of the self-test was 72% (95% confidence interval (CI) 57-84), the specificity 91% (95% CI 85-95), and the proportion of agreement 86% (95% CI 81-91). Thus, in the population studied, the validity of self-testing for nickel allergy was adequate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To estimate the prevalence of nickel allergy, self-reports are sometimes used in epidemiological studies. Self-reports are practical and may facilitate estimation of prevalence provided that the questions are validated. Objectives: To investigate the validity of self-reported nickel allergy. Methods: Three hundred and sixty-nine women, aged 30–40 years, from the general population participated in the study. The participants answered a questionnaire before a clinical examination and patch testing. The two questions being validated were ‘Are you sensitive/hypersensitive/allergic to nickel?’ and ‘Do you get a rash from metal buttons, jewellery or other metal items that come in direct contact with your skin?’ Results: Patch test showed nickel-positive reaction in 30% of the subjects. Self-reported prevalence of nickel allergy as indicated by the two respective questions was 40% and 35%. Positive predictive values for the two questions were 59% (95% CI 50–67) and 60% (95% CI 51–69). History of childhood eczema was over-represented among women with ‘false-positive’ self-reported nickel allergy ( P = 0.008). Self-reported hand eczema or ‘high wet exposure’ did not influence the validity. Conclusions: The validity of self-reported nickel allergy is low. The questions regarding nickel allergy overestimate the true prevalence of nickel allergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of hand eczema after 20 years in women patch tested to nickel during childhood. In 1982–1983, 960 schoolgirls were patch tested for nickel allergy; its prevalence was found to be 9%. 20 years later, the same individuals received a questionnaire regarding hand eczema and factors of importance for the development of hand eczema. 735 of 908 women (80.9%) answered the questionnaire. In total, 17.6% of respondents reported hand eczema after the age of 15 years, and the 1-year prevalence was 12.8%. There was no statistically significant difference in the occurrence of hand eczema between the groups who had previously tested positive and negative for nickel allergy. 38.3% of the respondents considered themselves to be nickel sensitive at the time they answered the questionnaire; in this group, the reported prevalence of hand eczema after age 15 was 22.5%. 31.4% of those with a history of atopic dermatitis reported hand eczema after age 15, compared with 10.6% of those without ( P < 0.001). In conclusion, contact allergy to nickel in childhood did not seem to increase the prevalence of hand eczema later in life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hand eczema is a chronic disease that results in economic and psychosocial burdens. The aim of this study was to systematically review and assess the magnitude of the association between exposure related to occupations and the incidence rate of hand eczema. A systematic search in PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL and Cochrane databases, from inception to September 2017, of full-text observational studies reporting incident cases of hand eczema during employment, and a supplementary search in PubMed to September 2020, were conducted. Among 2,417 screened abstracts, 15 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Incidence rates were reported per 100 person-years. Based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, 9 studies were good quality, 2 fair quality, and 4 poor quality. Hairdressers had a high incidence of hand eczema of 21.4 (95% confidence interval [CI] 15.3-27.4), as did nurses, 16.9 (95% CI 11.2-22.7), and metal workers, 12.4 (95% CI 3.5-21.3). Hairdressers were predominantly women, and metal worker were predominantly men. Office occupations had an incidence rate of hand eczema of 4.9 (95% CI 1.2-9.6). The high risk of hand eczema for hairdressers, nurses, and metal workers, should be considered by healthcare policymakers. Even occupations with low irritant profile, such as office workers, were at risk of developing hand eczema, and more occupations should be investigated regarding the related risk of developing hand eczema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SwedAD, a Swedish nationwide registry for patients with atopic dermatitis receiving systemic pharmacotherapy, was launched on 1 September 2019. We describe here the establishment of a user-friendly registry to the benefit of patients with atopic dermatitis. By 5 November 2022, 38 clinics had recorded 931 treatment episodes in 850 patients with an approximate national coverage rate of 40%. Characteristics at enrolment included median Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) 10.2 (interquartile range 4.0, 19.4), Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) 18.0 (10.0, 24.0), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) 11.0 (5.0, 19.0) and Peak Itch Numerical Rating Scale-11 (NRS-11) 6.0 (3.0, 8.0). At 3 months, median EASI was 3.2 (1.0, 7.3) and POEM, DLQI, and NRS-11 were improved. Regional coverage varied, reflecting the distribution of dermatologists, the ratio of public to private healthcare, and difficulties in recruiting certain clinics. This study highlights the importance of a nationwide registry when managing systemic pharmacotherapy of atopic dermatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]