Disease Severity and Quality of Life Outcome Measurements in Patients With Keloids: A Systematic Review

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-2019

Publication Title

Dermatologic surgery

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Keloids have been assessed by numerous methods and severity indices resulting in a lack of standardization across published research.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate published keloid randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and identify the need for a gold standard of assessment.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase were searched for human RCTs on keloid treatment during a 10-year period. Eligible studies were English language RCTs reporting disease severity outcome measures after keloid treatments.

RESULTS: A total of 40 disease outcome measures were used in 41 included RCTs. Twenty-four (59%) of the included studies used more than one disease severity scale. The most frequently used outcome measures were the Vancouver Scar Scale (34%) (n = 14), followed by serial photography (24%) (n = 10). These were followed by adverse events and complications (20%) (n = 8), Visual Analogue Scale (12%) (n = 5), keloid dimensions (12%) (n = 5), and Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (10%) (n = 4). Only one study reported quality of life outcomes.

CONCLUSION: There is wide variation in keloid outcome measures in the published literature. A standardized method of assessment should be implemented to reduce the disparities between studies and to better be able to compare the numerous treatment modalities.

PubMed ID

31567612

ePublication

ePub ahead of print

Volume

45

Issue

12

First Page

1477

Last Page

1483

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