BACKGROUND
While there has been an increase in the number of randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating treatment efficacy for HS, instrument measurements of disease severity and quality of life (QoL) are varied, making compilation of data and comparison between studies a challenge for clinicians.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this review is to evaluate trends in disease severity scales and patient reported outcome measures used in RCTs assessing treatment interventions among HS patients.
METHODS
A primary systematic literature review was conducted in August 2020. PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases were used to identify all articles published from January 1964 to July 2020. The study was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (ID: 209582). Twenty-five articles were included in the systematic review.
RESULTS
Sartorius and modified Sartorius scores (n=8), and Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinical score (HiSCs) (n=8) were the most commonly used instruments for disease severity. Participants’ pain, followed by Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), were the most common QoL measures used in the reviewed studies.
CONCLUSIONS
Heterogeneity of data characterizing both the validity and reliability of existing outcome measures hinders interpretation and translation of the results from RCTs into clinical practice. Many of the QoL measures identified were not specific to HS and may not be representative of all factors impacting patients.
Dapsone in Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Systematic Review
