A Systematic Review of Health-Related Quality-of-Life Measurement in Patients With Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections.

BACKGROUND: Acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSIs) can diminish patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We performed a systematic review to determine how HRQoL has been measured in patients with ABSSSIs. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase (Elsevier), and CINAHL (EBSCO) for articles published between database inception and 14 October 2022, following a prospectively registered protocol in PROSPERO (CRD42021225414). RESULTS: We identified 37 articles that employed 42 distinct measures: 26 generic measures assessing HRQoL; 14 condition-specific measures, including repurposed dermatologic or surgical HRQoL measures; and 2 author-developed questionnaires assessing treatment-related HRQoL. We found reduced HRQoL for patients experiencing ABSSSIs, which usually exhibited rapid onset and resolution. Pain had the greatest negative impact on HRQoL, and the most common HRQoL domain impacted was physical functioning. CONCLUSIONS: Progress has been made in the development and use of HRQoL measures, yet we did not identify a repurposed or novel tool that best captures HRQoL in patients with ABSSSI.

Duke Scholars

Author Heather Alyse King Population Health Sciences

Author Felicia Ruffin  

Author Lesley Skalla