Acne Relapses Linked to Lower Quality of Life, Productivity

TUESDAY, Feb. 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Acne relapses are significantly associated with impaired quality of life as well as productivity loss and absenteeism, according to a study recently published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.

Brigitte Dreno, M.D., from the Nantes University Hospital Centre in France, and colleagues conducted an online survey of 1,048 patients (≥15 years) with acne who spontaneously consulted their dermatologist. Acne severity was measured with the Global Acne Severity scale, while quality of life was assessed using the Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI), SF12-physical score, and SF12-mental score questionnaires.

Acne relapses were reported by 44 percent of respondents. The researchers found that these relapsers had poorer quality-of-life scores than nonrelapsers, with a significant difference for CADI scores among responders >20 years old. In 5.7 percent of cases, responders reported acne-related absenteeism. After adjustment for other variables, acne relapse was a significant determinant of absenteeism/productivity loss.

“This real-life study first demonstrated acne relapse rates of 44 percent, which appeared to be generation-dependent, affecting 39.9 percent of ≤20-year-olds versus 53.3 percent of >20-year-olds,” the authors write.

La Roche-Posay Dermatological Laboratories funded the study.

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