Incidence of work-related hand eczema during apprenticeship: first results of a prospective cohort study in the car industry

Data on the incidence and prevalence of occupational contact dermatitis (OCD) are scarce, and most of our knowledge about OCD is derived from clinical case reports or clinical studies of in- and out-patients. Therefore, we investigated in the epidemiological, prospective Audi cohort study (PACO study) the incidences of work-related hand eczema in different apprenticeships of Audi AG. In total, 2078 apprentices were investigated at the start of their apprenticeship and systematically followed up over a 3-year period. At the end of the study, information on 2042 (98.2% followup) apprentices was available. The I-year cumulative incidences of hand eczema were 9.2% (95%-confidence interval 7.8-10.7) in metalworkers, 8.8% (95%-CI 7.0-10.7) in other blue-collar workers, and 4.6% (95%-CI 2.3-8.1) in white-collar apprentices. The 3-year cumulative incidences of hand eczema were 15.3% (95%-CI 13.6-17.2) in metalworkers, 14.1% (95%-CI 11.8-16.5) in other blue-collar workers, and 6.9% (95%-CI 4.0-10.9) in white-collar apprentices. In females, the cumulative incidence of hand eczema was higher compared to men (1-year incidence 10.1%, 95%-CI 7.7-13.0, versus 8.3%, 95%-CI 7.1-9.5; 3-year incidence 16.1%, 95%-CI 13.1-19.5 versus 13.6%. 95%-CI 12.2-15.2). In some occupations, like cooks, tool mechanics, milling cutters and varnishers, the incidence of hand eczema was significantly increased. In those occupations, however, no job change was necessary, and no notifiable occupational contact dermatitis occurred. The incidence was not uniformly distributed over the 3-year period. Within the first 6 months, a particularly high rate of hand eczema occurred, which then declined and remained steady at a lower rate over the 2nd and the 3rd years. The results of our study give important suggestions for preventive measures at the workplace and effective occupational pre-employment advices.