Epidemiology of nummular eczema – methodological approaches and outcomes from nationwide claims data analyses
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Nummular eczema (NE) is a chronic skin condition with limited epidemiologic data. This study estimates its prevalence, incidence and severity in Germany. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis (2016-2022) used German insurance claims data to identify NE cases (ICD-10 L30.0) and assess severity (hospitalization, work disability, systemic treatment) and comorbid skin conditions, including atopic dermatitis (AD). RESULTS: In 2022, the prevalence of NE ranged from 0.07% to 0.26%. The incidence was 0.16%-0.17%. The mean age was 47.5 years, and 57.4% of the patients were male. Older males had a higher prevalence, while children younger than six years (0.34%), especially those younger than 2 years (0.56%-0.57%), were more affected. Severe NE was found in 14.8% of the patients. AD co-occurred in 18% of NE cases. NE patients had an increased risk of lichen simplex chronicus (RR 9.71), irritant contact dermatitis (RR 9.60), pruritus (RR 5.71), allergic rhinitis (RR 1.78), and allergic asthma (RR 1.49). CONCLUSIONS: Despite differences in methodological approaches leading to some variation, the prevalence of NE in the German population can be reasonably estimated at approximately 0.26%. Overlaps and miscoding may have occurred, particularly with other forms of eczema, underscoring the need for reliable diagnostics and standardized coding.
DOI: 10.1111/ddg.15932
Language: German
Subfield: Dermatology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,480
OpenAlex ID: W4416292829