Nickel Contact Allergy in an Australian Patch Testing Centre Over 2014-2023

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Allergology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Nickel is the primary cause of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD).
• Limited data exists on the prevalence and trends of nickel-related ACD (NiACD) in Australia.
• Understanding these trends is crucial for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence and temporal trends of nickel contact allergy.
• To investigate the prevalence and trends of nickel-related allergic contact dermatitis (NiACD) in Australia.
• To analyze demographic and clinical features associated with NiACD.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective audit of 3582 patients patch tested for nickel sulphate allergy (2014-2023).
• Assessment of nickel exposure relevance by consultant dermatologists.
• Statistical analysis using Pearson's chi-squared and Cochran-Armitage tests for trends.

Main Results:

• Nickel contact allergy prevalence was 16.0% (573/3582).
• NiACD prevalence was 4.7% (169/3582), showing a significant decreasing trend from 2014-2023 (P=0.0002).
• Nickel contact allergy prevalence remained stable; 11.8% of NiACD cases were occupationally related, with high comorbidity rates for atopic dermatitis, asthma, and allergic rhinitis.

Conclusions:

• A declining trend in NiACD prevalence was observed in the Australian patient cohort studied.
• Nickel contact allergy prevalence remained stable during the study period.
• The findings highlight a shift in NiACD epidemiology, potentially influenced by public health measures or environmental factors.