Premium
Alopecia areata and health‐related quality of life: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Author(s) -
Rencz F.,
Gulácsi L.,
Péntek M.,
Wikonkál N.,
Baji P.,
Brodszky V.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/bjd.14497
Subject(s) - alopecia areata , medicine , dermatology life quality index , quality of life (healthcare) , meta analysis , cinahl , psycinfo , cochrane library , medline , anxiety , disease , dermatology , psychiatry , psychological intervention , nursing , political science , law
Summary Background No systematic review has yet evaluated the available evidence on health‐related quality of life ( HRQOL ) in alopecia areata ( AA ). Objectives To conduct a systematic review and meta‐analysis of HRQOL studies among patients diagnosed with AA . Methods A systematic search was performed for papers published between 1946 and 15 December 2014 in Medline, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL , Psyc INFO and the Cochrane Library. Random‐effects meta‐analyses were conducted to pool data. Results Twenty‐one studies were included, representing a total of 2530 adult patients with AA . Of the 14 different HRQOL measures used in the studies, Dermatology Life Quality Index ( DLQI ; n = 8) and SF ‐36 ( n = 7) were the most common. Three AA ‐specific HRQOL instruments were identified: Alopecia Areata Quality of Life Index, Alopecia Areata Quality of Life and Alopecia Areata Symptom Impact Scale. The mean pooled DLQI score of patients with AA was 6·3 (95% confidence interval 5·6–7·1). Comparing age‐ and sex‐matched controls, the meta‐analysis of SF ‐36 studies revealed significantly reduced HRQOL across the role‐emotional, mental health and vitality domains ( P < 0·001). Wearing a wig had a positive impact, while scalp involvement, anxiety and depression had a negative impact on HRQOL . Conflicting results were found regarding the association between HRQOL and age, sex, marital status and disease duration. Conclusions Patients with AA experience significant impairment in HRQOL , especially in the area of mental health. Several generic and dermatology‐specific HRQOL instruments have been used, but no validation studies have confirmed their applicability in AA . The newly developed AA ‐specific measures seem very promising; however, a more extensive assessment of validity and reliability is needed.