Impact of seborrheic dermatitis on quality of life: a systematic review and meta analysis

Summary: Abstract Body: Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is a common chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by greasy scaling, erythema, and pruritus, often affecting the scalp, face, and trunk. While traditionally perceived as a benign disorder, its relapsing nature and visible symptoms may significantly affect patient quality of life (QoL), however, the full extent of this impact has not been comprehensively evaluated. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the QoL impairment in SD patients. Searches were performed in Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Database (up to June 2024) for global, published original research reporting quantitative QoL impact measured in SD patients through instruments such as the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and Skindex-29. Following PRISMA guidelines, 26 studies involving 8,384 SD patients met the inclusion criteria. Data were extracted and analyzed using a random-effects model to estimate pooled proportions and means with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Pooled mean DLQI score was 7.2 [95% CI: 6.3–8.1] across 3,812 patients, indicating moderate QoL impairment, with high heterogeneity (I2 = 97%, τ2 = 3.7720). Similarly, the pooled mean Skindex-29 score showed moderate impairment (26.0 [16.9–35.1) also with high heterogeneity (I2 = 98%, τ2 = 63.3069), further highlighting functional, emotional, and symptomatic challenges faced by SD patients – with the latter subdomain demonstrating most severe impairment. SD severity showed moderate correlation with QoL impairment (pooled Pearson’s r: 0.37 [95% CI: 0.31–0.43]; p=0.03). These findings underscore that SD is more than a dermatological nuisance; it imposes considerable impact on individual QoL, warranting greater clinical attention. Additional studies are needed to prospectively explore comprehensive management strategies to address both physical symptoms and psychosocial health. Jiaqi Chen¹, Carmen Li¹, Meredith Polaskey¹, Christy Chang², Raj Chovatiya¹ 1. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, IL, United States. 2. University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States. Clinical Research: Epidemiology and Observational Research