BACKGROUND: Although more than 25 acne grading systems exist, only 2 are inclusive of truncal acne. There is neither a gold standard nor a consistently used standardized system. PURPOSE: Our purpose was to develop and validate an acne grading system incorporating severity at the face, chest, and back. METHODS: We developed a comprehensive acne severity scale (CASS) by modifying a preexisting facial acne scale, the Investigator Global Assessment, to include truncal acne. The validity and responsiveness of CASS grades were correlated with Leeds scores at baseline and after 6 months of standard acne treatment. RESULTS: Spearman correlations were significant between Leeds and CASS grades for the face (0.823), chest (0.854), and back (0.872), respectively (p < .001). After 6 months of therapy, changes in these scores were also significantly correlated (p < .001) at all three sites. CONCLUSION: Concurrent validity of CASS is demonstrated by a very strong correlation with Leeds grading. CASS is simpler to use than the Leeds system and more appropriate for translation of research trial results to clinical practice.
BACKGROUND: Although more than 25 acne grading systems exist, only 2 are inclusive of truncal acne. There is neither a gold standard nor a consistently used standardized system. PURPOSE: Our purpose was to develop and validate an acne grading system incorporating severity at the face, chest, and back. METHODS: We developed a comprehensive acne severity scale (CASS) by modifying a preexisting facial acne scale, the Investigator Global Assessment, to include truncal acne. The validity and responsiveness of CASS grades were correlated with Leeds scores at baseline and after 6 months of standard acne treatment. RESULTS: Spearman correlations were significant between Leeds and CASS grades for the face (0.823), chest (0.854), and back (0.872), respectively (p < .001). After 6 months of therapy, changes in these scores were also significantly correlated (p < .001) at all three sites. CONCLUSION: Concurrent validity of CASS is demonstrated by a very strong correlation with Leeds grading. CASS is simpler to use than the Leeds system and more appropriate for translation of research trial results to clinical practice.
Authors: Yuka Asai; Akerke Baibergenova; Maha Dutil; Shannon Humphrey; Peter Hull; Charles Lynde; Yves Poulin; Neil H Shear; Jerry Tan; John Toole; Catherine Zip Journal: CMAJ Date: 2015-11-16 Impact factor: 8.262
Authors: Elena Bernardis; Haochang Shou; John S Barbieri; Patrick J McMahon; Marissa J Perman; Leigh Ann Rola; Jenna L Streicher; James R Treat; Leslie Castelo-Soccio; Albert C Yan Journal: JAMA Dermatol Date: 2020-03-01 Impact factor: 10.282