Impact of Pediatric Alopecia Areata on Quality of Life of Patients and Their Family Members: A Nationwide Multicenter Questionnaire Study

• Published in: Annals of dermatology Vol. 34; no. 4; pp. 237 - 244
• Main Authors: Jee Woong Choi, Yul Hee Kim, Hyunbin Kwak, Jin Park, Won-Soo Lee, Hoon Kang, Jung Eun Kim, Tae-Young Yoon, Ki-Ho Kim, Yong Hyun Jang, Do Won Kim, Moon-Bum Kim, Bark-Lynn Lew, Woo-Young Sim, Jiehyun Jeon, Soo Hong Seo, Ohsang Kwon, Chang-Hun Huh, Dong-Youn Lee, Yang Won Lee, Byung Choel Park, Chong Hyun Won, Do Young Kim, Hyojin Kim, Beom Joon Kim, Young Lee, Sang Seok Kim, Gwang Seong Choi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 대한피부과학회 05.08.2022
• Subjects: Pediatric alopecia areata; Quality of life
• ISSN: 1013-9087; 2005-3894

Background: Pediatric alopecia areata (AA) can affect the quality of life (QoL) of patients and their family members. Research on the QoL and burden on family members in pediatric AA is limited. Objective: This nationwide multicenter questionnaire study described the QoL and burden of the family members of patients with pediatric AA. Methods: This nationwide multicenter questionnaire study enrolled AA patients between the ages of 5 and 18 years from March 1, 2017 to February 28, 2018. Enrolled patients and their parents completed the modified Children’s Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) and the modified Dermatitis Family Impact (mDFI). The disease severity was measured using the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) survey scores. Results: A total of 268 patients with AA from 22 hospitals participated in this study. Our study found that the efficacy and satisfaction of previous treatments of AA decreased as the severity of the disease increased. The use of home-based therapies and traditional medicines increased with the increasing severity of the disease, but the efficacy felt by patients was limited. CDLQI and mDFI scores were higher in patients with extensive AA than those with mild to moderate AA. The economic and time burden of the family members also increased as the severity of the disease increased. Conclusion: The severity of the AA is indirectly proportional to the QoL of patients and their family members and directly proportional to the burden. Physicians need to understand these characteristics of pediatric AA and provide appropriate intervention to patients and their family members.