US Pharm. 2018;43(6):20-21.
Researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have developed several dermatology and disease-specific tools to measure the impact of skin disease, including the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and the nonvalidated Skin Discoloration Impact Evaluation Questionnaire (SDIEQ). Is one scale superior to the other, and/or easier to use?
In this study, BUSM researchers compared the DLQI with a short questionnaire (SDIEQ) to determine the impact of dark spots on a patient’s quality of life.
After analyzing 321 adults with hyperpigmentation disorders using both scales, the researchers found that DLQI and SDIEQ were similarly effective in measuring quality of life; however, SDIEQ was simpler to use and less time-consuming.
“Knowing how a condition impacts a patient’s quality of life is essential and a helpful guide in making treatment choices,” explained corresponding author Neelam Vashi, MD, assistant professor of dermatology at BUSM and director of the Boston University Cosmetic and Laser Center at Boston Medical Center. “Measuring health-related quality of life is also important in patients when it comes to allocation of resources.”
Dr. Vashi added that further studies are needed to validate the use of this tool in different patient populations and potentially in other disorders of pigmentation, such as vitiligo. These findings appear as a Research Note in the Journal of Dermatology.
