Divergence of Demographic Factors Associated with Clinical Severity Compared with Quality of Life Impact in Acne

BACKGROUND: Previous smaller studies suggest that age, gender, and duration of acne may individually be associated with clinical acne severity and quality of life (QoL) impact. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to concurrently evaluate the association of demographic factors with clinical acne severity and with QoL impact. METHODS: Clinical acne severity was assessed using the Investigators Global Assessment, whereas QoL impact was evaluated by the patient-completed Acne-QoL. These outcomes were correlated with sociodemographic variables, including age, gender, and duration of acne. RESULTS: In 862 acne patients, clinical severity was associated with younger age, male gender, and shorter acne duration (1-5 years). In contrast, greater impact on QoL was associated with older age, female gender, and longer acne duration (> 5 years). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical and QoL measures each differentiate between groups of patients most severely affected by acne. Our findings reinforce the imperative for clinicians to use both measures for comprehensive patient management. LIMITATIONS: Study limitations include referral population of acne patients and the restriction of outcome measures to facial acne.