Alopecia Areata and Health-Related Quality of Life: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

February 2016 in “ British Journal of Dermatology ”

Fanni Rencz, László Gulácsi, Márta Péntek, Norbert Wikonkál, Petra Baji, Valentin Brodszky

alopecia areata health-related quality of life HRQOL Dermatology Life Quality Index DLQI scalp involvement anxiety depression wig AA

TLDR Alopecia areata significantly lowers the quality of life, especially in emotional and mental health aspects.

The systematic review and meta-analysis from 2016 analyzed the impact of alopecia areata (AA) on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in 2,530 adult patients across 21 studies. It found that AA significantly impairs HRQOL, particularly affecting role-emotional, mental health, and vitality. The study also identified three AA-specific HRQOL instruments but noted they require further validation. The mean pooled Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score for AA patients was 6.3, indicating a significant reduction in HRQOL compared to controls. Factors such as wearing a wig improved HRQOL, while scalp involvement, anxiety, and depression worsened it. The study emphasized the need for more research on the validity of AA-specific HRQOL measures and the inclusion of HRQOL assessments in treatment efficacy studies.

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Research cited in this study

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