A Systematic Review of 207 Studies Describing Validation Aspects of the Dermatology Life Quality Index

This systematic review analyzed 207 studies involving 58,828 patients from over 49 countries to evaluate the validation aspects of the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). The DLQI showed strong test-retest reliability and good internal consistency, with 43 studies confirming these attributes. It also demonstrated responsiveness to change and known-groups validity across various parameters such as disease severity and psychological factors. However, the review highlighted a lack of racial diversity in the studies, with only 15% explicitly recruiting minority ethnic participants and 3.9% stratifying results by race/ethnicity. Overall, the review confirms the DLQI's strengths and suggests areas for further validation.