Work‐related and personal risk factors for occupational contact dermatitis: A systematic review of the literature with meta‐analysis

The objective of this review is to identify work‐related and personal risk factors for contact dermatitis (CD), and assess their association with this frequently occurring occupational disease. A systematic review of the literature from 1990 to June 2, 2020, was conducted using Medline and Embase. Prospective cohort and case–control studies were included, and meta‐analyses were conducted when feasible. Quality of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation. Twenty‐nine studies were identified, comprising 26 study populations and with a total of 846 209 participants investigating 52 risk factors for CD. Meta‐analyses were performed for five risk factors, all of them for irritant contact dermatitis (ICD). Moderate‐quality evidence was found for associations between wet work and ICD (OR: 1.56, 95%CI: 1.21–2.01). High‐quality evidence was found for the association between atopic dermatitis and ICD (OR: 2.44, 95%CI: 1.89–3.15). There was no evidence for an association between ICD and sex or history of hand dermatitis, respiratory and mucosal atopy. In conclusion, several work‐related and personal risk factors associated with CD were identified. Our data emphasize the need for the assessment of both, work‐related and personal, risk factors to prevent occupational CD.