Aaron M Secrest1,2, Zachary H Hopkins3, Zachary E Frost1, Vanina L Taliercio1, LaVar D Edwards4, Joshua E Biber2, Suephy C Chen5,6, Mary-Margaret Chren4, Laura K Ferris7, Jacob Kean2, Rachel Hess2,8. 1. Department of Dermatology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City. 2. Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City. 3. Department of Dermatology, Broward Health, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 4. Department of Dermatology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee. 5. Department of Dermatology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia. 6. Regional TeleHealth Services, Atlanta Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Atlanta, Georgia. 7. Department of Dermatology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 8. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.
Abstract
Importance: Acne is a common dermatologic condition and significantly affects psychosocial health and quality of life. An international task force recommended routine use of quality-of-life measures for clinic visits associated with acne management, but this has yet to translate into clinical practice. Objective: To assess mean Skindex-16 scores over time among patients with moderate to severe acne receiving isotretinoin treatment. Design, Setting, and Participants: A longitudinal, retrospective case series study of Skindex-16 data collected at monthly visits from 57 consecutive patients with acne receiving isotretinoin; data were collected and evaluated between November 23, 2016, and January 22, 2019. Continuous variables were compared using quantile regression. Multivariable linear mixed models evaluated mean (95% CI) score trajectory over time. Main Outcomes and Measure: Skindex-16 scores, including normalized scores for the emotional, symptomatic, and functional aspects of having skin disease as well as an overall score. Results: Fifty-seven patients (31 [54.4 %] males, with median [interquartile range] age of 17.2 [15.9-18.1] years) in this case series study completed the Skindex-16 at baseline and at least once during follow-up. Baseline Skindex-16 scores were similar by sex but worse with increasing age. Emotional impact was more bothersome to patients with acne requiring isotretinoin treatment than either symptoms or functioning. Improvements of greater than 50% in overall and Emotional domain scores were seen by month 2 of receiving isotretinoin treatment (eg, overall scores decreased from 39.4 to 17.5 by month 2; a decrease of 22.0; P < .001). Qualitatively, Skindex-16 scores reached their nadir between months 3 and 5; at month 4, overall Skindex-16 scores showed a 4.4-fold improvement (from 39.4 at baseline to 8.9; P < .001) and Emotional domain scores showed a 4.8-fold improvement (from 57.7 at baseline to 11.9; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this case series suggest that patients receiving isotretinoin treatment achieve greater than a 50% improvement in quality of life by month 2 and can expect approximately 4-fold to 5-fold improvements from baseline with a full course of isotretinoin. This study shows the potential of routine administration of quality of life measures to assess patient care in dermatology.
Importance: Acne is a common dermatologic condition and significantly affects psychosocial health and quality of life. An international task force recommended routine use of quality-of-life measures for clinic visits associated with acne management, but this has yet to translate into clinical practice. Objective: To assess mean Skindex-16 scores over time among patients with moderate to severe acne receiving isotretinoin treatment. Design, Setting, and Participants: A longitudinal, retrospective case series study of Skindex-16 data collected at monthly visits from 57 consecutive patients with acne receiving isotretinoin; data were collected and evaluated between November 23, 2016, and January 22, 2019. Continuous variables were compared using quantile regression. Multivariable linear mixed models evaluated mean (95% CI) score trajectory over time. Main Outcomes and Measure: Skindex-16 scores, including normalized scores for the emotional, symptomatic, and functional aspects of having skin disease as well as an overall score. Results: Fifty-seven patients (31 [54.4 %] males, with median [interquartile range] age of 17.2 [15.9-18.1] years) in this case series study completed the Skindex-16 at baseline and at least once during follow-up. Baseline Skindex-16 scores were similar by sex but worse with increasing age. Emotional impact was more bothersome to patients with acne requiring isotretinoin treatment than either symptoms or functioning. Improvements of greater than 50% in overall and Emotional domain scores were seen by month 2 of receiving isotretinoin treatment (eg, overall scores decreased from 39.4 to 17.5 by month 2; a decrease of 22.0; P < .001). Qualitatively, Skindex-16 scores reached their nadir between months 3 and 5; at month 4, overall Skindex-16 scores showed a 4.4-fold improvement (from 39.4 at baseline to 8.9; P < .001) and Emotional domain scores showed a 4.8-fold improvement (from 57.7 at baseline to 11.9; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this case series suggest that patients receiving isotretinoin treatment achieve greater than a 50% improvement in quality of life by month 2 and can expect approximately 4-fold to 5-fold improvements from baseline with a full course of isotretinoin. This study shows the potential of routine administration of quality of life measures to assess patient care in dermatology.
Authors: Amal A Mohamed; Alshymaa Hassnine; Amr Elsayed; Mahmoud Montaser; Yasmeen Ismail; Ahmed El-Demery; Eman Sultan; Rania S Abdel Aziz; Eman Eldemiry; Radwa Hagag; Amal A El-Kholy; Eman Salah Journal: Pharmgenomics Pers Med Date: 2021-12-24