Economic burden of dermatitis in US workers [corrected].

Abstract

To estimate the economic burden associated with dermatitis in those aged 16 to 65 years and working in seven industry sectors (DW). The 2004 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and the cost-of-illness method, which aggregates health care costs and productivity losses, were used. The economic burden of DW was ~$1.2 billion, representing 10.5% of the cost of all skin diseases and disorders (SDD). In all private industry (ie, the sum of the seven sectors examined), cost per employed person was ~$11 for DW and $109 for SDD. In the all-services sector, one of the seven examined, cost per employed person was ~$15 for DW and $113 for SDD. This study provides the first published estimate of the economic burden of DW, based on a representative sample of the US population.