Chronic hand eczema in Germany: 5-year follow-up data from the CARPE registry

Background: The CARPE registry was set up in 2009 to prospectively investigate the management of patients with chronic hand eczema (CHE). Objectives: To report comprehensive follow-up data from the CARPE registry. Patients and methods: We investigated sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, provision of medical care, physician-assessed outcomes, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Data were collected between 2009 and 2016, with up to 5 years of follow-up, and are reported descriptively. Results: Overall, 1281 patients were included in the registry (53.7% female). Mean age was 47.0 years. Of the patients, 793 and 231 completed the 2-year follow-up and 5-year follow-up, respectively. At baseline, 5.4% had changed or given up their job because of CHE, the average duration of CHE was 6.1 years, and, in 22.4%, the CHE was severe according to physician global assessment. Systemic treatment (alitretinoin, acitretin, and methotrexate) was prescribed at least once to 39.0% of the patients during the course of the follow-up. Disease severity, quality of life and treatment satisfaction improved over time, and the proportion of patients receiving systemic treatments decreased. Conclusions: Under continued dermatological care, substantial improvements in disease severity and PROs over time was achieved during the course of the CARPE registry, even in patients with long-standing and severe hand eczema.