Alopecia areata (AA) is known to impact the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of affected individuals, yet there is a paucity of research focusing on its effects specifically in pediatric patients and their families. To address this gap, researchers recently conducted a single-center cross-sectional cohort study aimed at assessing the HRQoL of pediatric patients diagnosed with AA and evaluating its impact on their parents.

Between December 2020 and December 2021, researchers enrolled 72 pediatric patients with AA from the dermatology department of a tertiary center in Turkey. They used the Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) to gauge the HRQoL of pediatric patients, and the Dermatological Family Impact Scale (DeFIS) to evaluate the impact on their parents (often primary caregivers in the disease process).

The results showed a mean CDLQI score of 8.4 ± 5.3 among the pediatric cohort, indicating moderate impairment. The symptoms and feelings domain exhibited the highest impairment, while the personal relationships domain showed the least. The authors also reported a significant positive correlation between the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score and all CDLQI domains, particularly pronounced in the leisure domain. DeFIS score analysis revealed a significantly higher impact on female patients' families compared to those of males. 

"This study showed that AA is a disease that significantly affects the HRQoL of children and families," the researchers wrote in the study. "In this regard, since it is known that stress is one of the crucial factors influencing the course of the disease, it can be proposed that psychosocial evaluation of pediatric patients and families and supporting patients and families in need will play an essential role in managing AA."

Source: Yücesoy S, Uzunçakmak T, Selçukoğlu Ö,  et al. Evaluation of quality of life scores and family impact scales in pediatric patients with alopecia areata: a cross-sectional cohort study. Intl J Dermatol. Published April 22, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.17154