Health-related Quality of Life in Patients with Cutaneous Rosacea: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of rosacea patients is a relevant outcome measure in research and clinical practice. A review of the literature was systematically carried out regarding levels of HRQoL of patients with rosacea, including associations between HRQoL scores, demographic and clinical characteristics. Searches were performed in Cochrane, PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL and LILACS. HRQoL studies in patients with cutaneous rosacea, using validated HRQoL instruments, published between 1991 and 2014, were included. Data extraction was performed independently by 2 authors. Study design, demographics, clinical characteristics and HRQoL scores were summarized per HRQoL questionnaire. Associations between HRQoL, demographic and clinical characteristics were explored. Out of 984 references, 12 studies were included. Three HRQoL instruments were used: Short Form-36 (SF-36), Dermatology Life Questionnaire Index (DLQI) and Rosacea Quality of Life Index (RosaQoL). Because of the heterogeneity of the included studies, data synthesis was hardly feasible. All studies reported a negative impact on HRQoL, which appeared to be associated with disease severity and age. Results regarding the association with sex and subtype were mixed. With regard to the clinical relevance of HRQoL scores of rosacea patients, it seems that rosacea has a small to moderate effect on HRQoL.

Maintenance of remission following successful treatment of papulopustular rosacea with ivermectin 1% cream vs. metronidazole 0.75% cream: 36‐week extension of the ATTRACT randomized study

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“…The patient burden of rosacea can be significant . However, few tools exist to measure the psychosocial burden of rosacea and, like severity scales, many are repurposed from other areas, with a variety used across the literature . RosaQoL is the only quality‐of‐life instrument specific to rosacea.…”

Evaluation of a novel very high sun-protection-factor moisturizer in adults with rosacea-prone sensitive skin

“…As rosacea affects facial appearance, the condition can have a marked psychological impact and undermine health-related quality of life 3,7–9. As Moustafa et al commented, “… patients with dermatologic conditions bear their disease for the world to see” 7.…”