Interpretation of Skindex-29 Scores

Correlation of skin-related quality of life with anxiety and depression in chronic dermatoses: A cross-sectional study

Background

Dermatology and psychiatry are two specialties which often have a bearing on each other. Multiple indices have been used to study the quality of life in skin diseases; however, very few studies have correlated these indices with questionnaires of common psychiatric comorbidities like anxiety and depression.

Methods

The study was conducted in a dermatology out patient department (OPD) of a tertiary care hospital. All patients with chronic dermatological conditions (meeting the inclusion criteria) were included, and each patient was made to fill two questionnaires that are Skindex-29 for skin-related quality of life and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) for depression. They were also assessed for anxiety using the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A), which was filled under the supervision of a psychiatrist.

Results

The scores for the common diagnoses were collated and analyzed using SPSS 20.0 software, and the results were tabulated. It was found that both the HAM-A and BDI-II had a moderate positive correlation with the Skindex which was statistically significant. Also, on correlating the individual domains of the Skindex with the HAM-A and BDI, the domain of emotions depicted the best correlation.

Conclusion

The study brings to light that a relatively easy to administer quality of life questionnaire can be used as a screening tool to identify psychiatric morbidity and in a busy skin OPD, questions from the emotion domain can only be asked for early referral to a psychiatrist.

A novel, multi-active emollient for the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis in breast cancer patients: a randomized clinical trial

PURPOSE

To investigate the efficacy of a novel, multi-active emollient in preventing and managing acute radiation dermatitis (ARD) in breast cancer patients undergoing moderate hypofractionated (HF) radiotherapy (RT) compared to standard of care.

METHODSA

A monocentric, open-label, randomized clinical trial (RCT) with breast cancer patients receiving moderate HF (dose: 40.05-55.86 Gy, fractions: 15-21) was conducted between January 2022 and May 2023. The experimental group received the novel emollient, while the control group received the standard skin care. Patients applied the skin care products twice daily during the complete RT course. The primary outcome was the severity of ARD at the final RT session measured by the modified Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) criteria. Secondary outcomes included patient symptoms, quality of life (QoL), and treatment satisfaction.

RESULTS

A total of 100 patients with 50 patients per group were enrolled. In the control group, 50% of the patients developed RTOG grade 1 ARD and 48% grade 2 or higher, while in the experimental group, the severity of ARD was significantly lower with 82% grade 1 and 16% grade 2 ARD (P = .013, χ2-test). The frequency and severity of xerosis were significantly lower in the experimental compared to the control group (Ps ≤ .036, Mann Whiney U test). The impact of ARD on the QoL was low, and treatment satisfaction was high in both groups, with no significant difference.

CONCLUSION

This RCT shows that the novel, multi-active emollient significantly reduced the ARD RTOG grade. Research in a more diverse patient population is warranted.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04929808 (11/06/2021).

Evaluation of a novel skin care product for the management of chemotherapy-related dermatologic toxicities: A quasi-experimental study

PURPOSE

Evaluate the efficacy of a novel skincare product for the management of chemotherapy-related dermatological toxicities.

METHODS

A monocentric, prospective, interventional, open-label, pretest-posttest, single-group study with cancer patients receiving chemotherapy (n = 100) was set up. All enrolled patients applied the emollient daily to their face and body for three weeks. The severity of the skin reactions was evaluated by a researcher using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0 at baseline and end of the trial. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) included the frequency and severity of skin symptoms (Numerical rating scale, NRS), quality of life (QoL; Skindex-16 and Dermatology Life Quality Index), Patient Benefit Index (PBI), and treatment satisfaction. PROs were collected at baseline, weekly, and at the end of the trial.

RESULTS

According to the CTCAE and NRS, the novel emollient significantly improved the severity and frequency of xerosis and pruritus (Ps ≤ .001). A significant reduction in the NRS score for frequency of erythema was measured (p < .001). The frequency and severity of burning and pain did not change. Regarding the patients' QoL, no beneficial effect of the skin care product was measurable. 44% of the patients experienced at least one patient-relevant treatment benefit. 87% of the patients were satisfied with the emollient and would recommend it.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that the novel emollient significantly reduced chemotherapy-induced skin toxicity, more specifically xerosis and pruritus without hampering patient's QoL. Future research is needed to make definite conclusions using a study design including a control group and a long-term follow-up.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis and co-morbid major depressive disorder: A systematic review with burden estimates

Background

Major depressive disorder (MDD) associated with chronic neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) has been identified as a significant and overlooked contributor to overall disease burden. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is one of the most prevalent and stigmatising NTDs, with an incidence of around 1 million new cases of active CL infection annually. However, the characteristic residual scarring (inactive CL) following almost all cases of active CL has only recently been recognised as part of the CL disease spectrum due to its lasting psychosocial impact.

Methods and findings

We performed a multi-language systematic review of the psychosocial impact of active and inactive CL. We estimated inactive CL (iCL) prevalence for the first time using reported WHO active CL (aCL) incidence data that were adjusted for life expectancy and underreporting. We then quantified the disability (YLD) burden of co-morbid MDD in CL using MDD disability weights at three severity levels. Overall, we identified 29 studies of CL psychological impact from 5 WHO regions, representing 11 of the 50 highest burden countries for CL. We conservatively calculated the disability burden of co-morbid MDD in CL to be 1.9 million YLDs, which equalled the overall (DALY) disease burden (assuming no excess mortality in depressed CL patients). Thus, upon inclusion of co-morbid MDD alone in both active and inactive CL, the DALY burden was seven times higher than the latest 2016 Global Burden of Disease study estimates, which notably omitted both psychological impact and inactive CL.

Conclusions

Failure to include co-morbid MDD and the lasting sequelae of chronic NTDs, as exemplified by CL, leads to large underestimates of overall disease burden.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a highly prevalent vector-borne disease affecting large parts of Latin America and the Middle East, as well as parts of Northern Africa. There are several types of Cutaneous leishmaniasis, almost all of which have an active phase characterized by a disfiguring lesion (typically on exposed parts of the body), which then becomes a permanent scar (the inactive phase). We recently published an article highlighting the impact of the inactive scarring phase of CL on affected individuals, which is associated with high levels of stigma. Nevertheless, this aspect of the disease is not considered in its own right when calculating the overall disease burden by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Studies. In this article we estimate the prevalence of depression (major depressive disorder) in cutaneous leishmaniasis, in both the active and inactive forms. We then show the contribution of inactive CL to the overall disease burden estimates when included, which is due to the large psychological impact it has on those affected by it. We also highlight the importance of further similar efforts for other NTDs which have a chronic course, and which are also not sufficiently included in disease burden calculations at present.

Patient-reported outcomes and quality of life measures in atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a complex and heterogeneous disorder with a profound symptom burden and harmful impact on multiple domains of quality of life (QOL). Many different patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures exist to assess clinical manifestations and QOL impairment in AD, but none comprehensively assess all aspects of the disease. This review addresses the PRO and QOL measures currently used in AD and their properties, strengths, weaknesses, and feasibility for assessing AD in randomized controlled trials and clinical practice. Currently, the patient-oriented eczema measure (POEM) has emerged as a preferred PRO for AD clinical manifestations, though no single instrument has developed as a preferred QOL measure. Validated PRO and QOL measures should be incorporated in all clinical trials of AD and in clinical practice where feasible.