To Örebro University

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is associated with the extent and severity of hand eczema. We still lack a consensus about which HRQoL instrument to use as the standard, and how to measure the extent and severity of hand eczema.

Objectives: To compare the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) with EQ-5D (a standardized instrument for use as a measure of health outcome), and to evaluate how the Hand Eczema Extent Score (HEES) relates to these instruments.

Methods: Ninety-three patients (61 females) were included. The HEES was recorded by a dermatologist, and the DLQI and EQ-5D by the patients. The results were analysed with factor analysis and non-parametric statistics.

Results: The DLQI and EQ-5D showed decreased HRQoL. Using factor analysis, we could not establish an association between the DLQI and EQ-5D. There were, however, correlations between the DLQI and the HEES (0.31), the EQ(index) and the HEES (-0.32), the DLQI and the EQ(VAS) (-0.62), and the DLQI and the EQ(index) (-0.67) (the EQ(VAS) and the EQ(index) are calculated from EQ-5D).

Conclusions: We could not link factors in the DLQI to EQ-5D, which has previously been done for SF-36 (Short Form 36). On the basis of this, we cannot recommend EQ-5D over SF-36 for hand eczema studies. The DLQI correlates with the EQ(VAS) and the EQ(index), and can probably be used as an approximation for EQ-5D. Our findings with the HEES are interesting, as it can be used by patients.