Initial validation of the epidermolysis bullosa-specific module of the Infants and Toddlers Dermatology Quality of Life questionnaire

Health-related quality of life and clinical severity in people with epidermolysis bullosa - A proposal for assessing nutritional compromise by body mass index (Birmingham Epidermolysis Bullosa Severity Score)

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a rare genetic disease characterised by skin fragility with blisters and erosions on the skin and/or mucous membranes. People with EB often experience several extracutaneous manifestations, including clinical and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) complications. Herein, we evaluate their HRQoL and clinical severity and propose an objective criterion for estimating nutritional compromise using the Birmingham Epidermolysis Bullosa Severity Score (BEBS) tool.

METHODS

this series of cases included people with EB, monitored by a multi-professional team. Clinical severity was assessed with the BEBS, using body mass index ranges by age, as an objective proposal, to estimate the degree of nutritional compromise. To assess HRQoL, the Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (individuals aged 4-16 years) and the Quality of Life Evaluation in Epidermolysis Bullosa - Brazilian Portuguese (individuals 17 years and over) were used.

RESULTS

of the nine individuals with recessive dystrophic EB (88.9 % female and 12.91 (SD = 11.71) years), the mean total BEBS score was 24.47 (SD = 12.80) points on a scale of 0 to 100 points. Six participants had significant nutritional compromise according to the proposed criteria. Five of the six participants evaluated for HRQoL reported experiencing some impact, with individuals aged 17 and over being more affected and with greater clinical severity.

CONCLUSIONS

individuals with greater clinical severity of EB experience a more significant impact on their HRQoL. The proposed quantitative criteria for assessing nutritional compromise may help standardise assessments by professionals monitoring the nutritional status of individuals with EB.

Responsiveness and Minimal Clinically Important Difference of the Infants and Toddlers Dermatology Quality of Life Questionnaire

BACKGROUND

The Infants and Toddlers Dermatology Quality of Life (InToDermQoL) is the dermatology-specific proxy health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instrument for children from birth to 4 years. The aim of the present study was to confirm the responsiveness and establish minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for the InToDermQoL.

METHODS

Parents of children with skin diseases were asked to fill in the InToDermQoL at the initial visit (T1) and subsequent consultation (T2). We hypothesized that correlations between change scores of the InToDermQoL and change scores of global assessment of clinical severity by dermatologists and by patients' parents should be above 0.3. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves method was also used for confirmation of responsiveness and determination of MCIDs of the InToDermQoL. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was used as an indicator of responsiveness.

RESULTS

Results of 442 patients were included. Correlations between change scores of age-specific versions of the InToDermQoL and change scores of global assessment of clinical severity by dermatologists and by patients' parents were above 0.3 (0.46-0.74). AUCs for age-specific versions of the InToDermQoL were acceptable (above 0.7) or excellent (above 0.8). Estimated MCIDs for the InToDermQoL were as follows: 3 points of total score change for 0-11 months, 5 for 1-2 years and 3 or 4 for 3-4 years version. Estimated MCIDs for the InToDermQoL version for 1-2-year-old children was higher than MCIDs for the 3-4-year-old version despite the higher number of items in the latter. Therefore a MCID of 5 was recommended for both these versions.

CONCLUSIONS

Responsiveness for all age-specific versions of the InToDermQoL questionnaire was confirmed. MCIDs for the InToDermQoL are proposed as follows: 3-point change of the total score for age version 0-11 months and 5-point for the age versions 1-2 years and 3-4 years.

Sensitivity to treatment and score bands of the Infants and Toddlers Dermatology Quality of Life questionnaire

Background

The Infants and Toddlers Dermatology Quality of Life (InToDermQoL) questionnaire is the first dermatology-specific proxy health related QoL instrument for children from birth to 4 years. Score meaning bands and the sensitivity to successful therapeutic intervention are important to interpret the clinical meaning of an instrument.

Objective

The aim of the present study was to check the sensitivity to successful therapeutic intervention and establish score bands of the InToDermQoL questionnaire.

Methods

Parents or grandparents of 424 children with skin diseases from Spain, Malta, Croatia, Romania, Greece, and Ukraine filled in national language versions of the InToDermQoL questionnaire. Disease severity of children with atopic dermatitis was assessed by SCORAD (Scoring atopic dermatitis). Cohen's d was used to assess the responsiveness of the instrument.

Results

The mean total InToDermQoL scores significantly decreased after treatment. Severity grading of the SCORAD scores gave stratification of the InToDermQoL severity grades based on 95% confidence intervals. Scores below a calculated minimal important difference of 2 corresponded to no effect on patient's health related QoL.

Limitations

Score banding may be slightly different across patient population and study context.

Conclusion

All 3 age-specific versions of the InToDermQoL questionnaire showed sensitivity to treatment. Score bands for the InToDermQoL questionnaire have been established.

Patient Quality of Life Improvement in Bullous Disease: A Review of Primary Literature and Considerations for the Clinician

Autoimmune and inherited bullous disorders are rare skin diseases that may have a profound negative impact on quality of life (QOL). Common symptoms include pain, pruritus, and scarring, and complications may result in the loss of the ability to perform daily tasks. Diagnosis may have a negative psychological impact, and ongoing management may require a significant allocation of time and resources by both patients and providers. To provide patient-centered care, consideration of these factors is of utmost importance for the dermatologist treating patients with bullous disorders. Herein, we present a review of the primary literature evaluating QOL in autoimmune and inherited bullous disorders, including pemphigus, pemphigoid, epidermolysis bullosa, and Hailey-Hailey disease.

Quality of Life in Hidradenitis Suppurativa: An Update

Knowledge on hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa (HS) is rapidly increasing. HS has a profound impact on patients and their family life. Several factors, such as comorbidities, unemployment and HS severity, make this impact even more severe. The most widely used instrument to measure this impact is the dermatology-specific DLQI. We also identified six HS-specific health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instruments. Of them, HIDRAdisk, HSIA, HiSQOL and HSQoL-24 are better validated but there is still lack of experience of its use. Several treatment methods showed positive effect on patients’ HRQoL. Surgery remains a method with a substantial positive effect on HRQoL. Several studies confirming a positive effect of adalimumab on the HRQoL of patients with HS were published during the last three years. Data on the influence of several other biologics on HRQoL of HS patients are controversial or based on studies with a small number of patients.