PS03 The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) in 70 guidelines and 58 registries of 55 countries: a systematic review

Abstract

The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) is the most widely used patient-reported outcome instrument in dermatology to measure the impact of skin conditions on a patient’s quality of life. A 2020 survey identified use of DLQI in national guidelines and disease registries in over 45 countries. We performed a systematic review of peer-reviewed publications using DLQI data taken from registries, or studies using the DLQI in dermatology guidelines, and including other methods to identify such use. The literature was searched using the MEDLINE, Embase and Scopus databases for articles describing registries collecting DLQI data from routine clinical practice, and guidelines that encourage DLQI use in clinical decision making. Secondly, we surveyed national and regional dermatology organizations to identify other DLQI use in guidelines and registries. Thirdly, we screened organizations with English-language websites endorsing dermatological guidelines. Online searching identified 2593 publications; 195 matched the study inclusion criteria. In total, 57 studies from 55 countries used the DLQI and referred to dermatological guidelines, and 123 studies used DLQI data from 50 registries. Twenty were generic publications referring to guidelines or registries and the DLQI. Most studies using guidelines (29 of 55, 53%) focused on psoriasis. In total, 37 registries recorded psoriasis data published in 73 of 120 (60.8%) studies. Overall, 59 registries were managed by dermatology groups, 29 by governments, 9 by pharmaceutical companies, 10 by trusts or foundations and 2 by societies. Additional registries and guidelines using DLQI were identified from our email survey and from organizational websites. There is accumulating evidence of the application of DLQI in registries and clinical guidelines. Widespread use of the DLQI in multiple registries internationally contributes to improved global health and facilitates meaningful comparison of quality-of-life data across countries and between different skin conditions, also facilitating collaboration between registries. This demonstrates the central role of the DLQI as the dermatology-specific quality-of-life instrument used internationally as a ‘standard of care’.