Treatment Patterns and Economic Burden in Moderate to Severe Chronic Hand Eczema in the USA: A Real-World Retrospective Claims Analysis

INTRODUCTION: Although Chronic Hand Eczema (CHE) is associated with substantial humanistic burden, treatment patterns and economic impact are poorly understood in the USA. Therefore, this study characterized real-world treatment patterns and economic burden among patients with moderate to severe CHE in the USA. METHODS: US claims data (01/2016-04/2024) were used to identify adults with moderate to severe CHE. Treatments were assessed post-diagnosis, with patients stratified into non-mutually exclusive cohorts on the basis of eczema/dermatitis-related treatment received. Eczema/dermatitis-related healthcare resource utilization and costs were descriptively reported while on treatment. RESULTS: In total, 6295 patients with moderate to severe CHE were included (mean age: 48.2 years; 63.8% female; 76.6% commercially insured). Topical and systemic corticosteroid therapies were used by 81.3% and 86.2% of patients, respectively. Treatment patterns were heterogeneous; patients frequently transitioned between systemic, topical, and no treatment. Total eczema/dermatitis-related costs per-person-per-year increased with treatment intensity, to $21,682 among patients receiving monoclonal antibodies/oral Janus kinase inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS: Substantial disease heterogeneity, extensive corticosteroid reliance, and steep increases in healthcare costs with treatment escalation were observed, underscoring an urgent need for CHE-specific therapies capable of providing durable control and reducing inappropriate resource use.